diff --git a/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js b/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
index 13ca389a..b74581a0 100644
--- a/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
+++ b/lib/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
@@ -321,8 +321,9 @@ function buildLink(longname, linkText, options) {
         text = linkText || stripped;
     }
     // handle complex type expressions that may require multiple links
-    // (but skip anything that looks like an inline tag)
-    else if (longname && isComplexTypeExpression(longname) && /\{\@.+\}/.test(longname) === false) {
+    // (but skip anything that looks like an inline tag or HTML tag)
+    else if (longname && isComplexTypeExpression(longname) && /\{\@.+\}/.test(longname) === false &&
+        /^<[\s\S]+>/.test(longname) === false) {
         parsedType = parseType(longname);
         return stringifyType(parsedType, options.cssClass, options.linkMap);
     }
diff --git a/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js b/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
index 040bb792..c2cd1207 100644
--- a/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
+++ b/test/specs/jsdoc/util/templateHelper.js
@@ -443,6 +443,13 @@ describe("jsdoc/util/templateHelper", function() {
             expect(link).toBe('<a href="fakeclass.html#fragment">LinktoFakeClass</a>');
         });
 
+        it('returns the original text if an HTML <a> tag is specified', function() {
+            var text = '<a href="http://example.com">text</a>';
+            var link = helper.linkto(text);
+
+            expect(link).toBe(text);
+        });
+
         it('returns the original text if an inline {@link} tag is specified', function() {
             var link;
             var text = '{@link Foo}';