diff --git a/static/js/alert_words.js b/static/js/alert_words.js
index e5a9045f90..4b135828ad 100644
--- a/static/js/alert_words.js
+++ b/static/js/alert_words.js
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ var alert_words = (function () {
 var exports = {};
 
 exports.words = page_params.alert_words;
+exports.set_words = function (value) {
+    exports.words = value;
+};
 
 // Delete the `page_params.alert_words` since we are its sole user.
 delete page_params.alert_words;
diff --git a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
index a3fa46202d..4b780fbf53 100644
--- a/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
+++ b/static/js/server_events_dispatch.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ exports.dispatch_normal_event = function dispatch_normal_event(event) {
     var noop = function () {};
     switch (event.type) {
     case 'alert_words':
-        alert_words.words = event.alert_words;
+        alert_words.set_words(event.alert_words);
         alert_words_ui.render_alert_words_ui();
         break;