diff --git a/blocks/html/edit_form.php b/blocks/html/edit_form.php
index 05b52fde06b40..35d6e9425cd35 100644
--- a/blocks/html/edit_form.php
+++ b/blocks/html/edit_form.php
@@ -57,11 +57,24 @@ function set_data($defaults) {
         } else {
             $text = '';
         }
+
+        if (!$this->block->user_can_edit() && !empty($this->block->config->title)) {
+            // If a title has been set but the user cannot edit it format it nicely
+            $title = $this->block->config->title;
+            $defaults->config_title = format_string($title, true, $this->page->context);
+            // Remove the title from the config so that parent::set_data doesn't set it.
+            unset($this->block->config->title);
+        }
+
         // have to delete text here, otherwise parent::set_data will empty content
         // of editor
         unset($this->block->config->text);
         parent::set_data($defaults);
         // restore $text
         $this->block->config->text = $text;
+        if (isset($title)) {
+            // Reset the preserved title
+            $this->block->config->title = $title;
+        }
     }
 }