diff --git a/src/Text/Pandoc/Util/Filter/Cols.hs b/src/Text/Pandoc/Util/Filter/Cols.hs
index 7f5e2b5..eddf465 100644
--- a/src/Text/Pandoc/Util/Filter/Cols.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Pandoc/Util/Filter/Cols.hs
@@ -75,4 +75,4 @@ makeDiv :: Int -> Block -> Block
 makeDiv width content = Div ("", [], [("style","width:" <> show width <> "%;float:left")]) [content]
 
 clearDiv :: Block
-clearDiv = Div ("", [], [("style", "clear: both")]) [Plain [toHtml "&nbsp;"]]
+clearDiv = Div ("", [], [("style", "clear: both")]) [Plain [toHtml ""]]