diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js b/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
index de418e7edbc..7cee5444457 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.doughnut.js
@@ -22,25 +22,25 @@ defaults._set('doughnut', {
 		mode: 'single'
 	},
 	legendCallback: function(chart) {
-		var text = [];
-		text.push('<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend">');
-
+		var list = document.createElement('ul');
 		var data = chart.data;
 		var datasets = data.datasets;
 		var labels = data.labels;
+		var i, ilen, listItem, listItemSpan;
 
+		list.setAttribute('class', chart.id + '-legend');
 		if (datasets.length) {
-			for (var i = 0; i < datasets[0].data.length; ++i) {
-				text.push('<li><span style="background-color:' + datasets[0].backgroundColor[i] + '"></span>');
+			for (i = 0, ilen = datasets[0].data.length; i < ilen; ++i) {
+				listItem = list.appendChild(document.createElement('li'));
+				listItemSpan = listItem.appendChild(document.createElement('span'));
+				listItemSpan.style.backgroundColor = datasets[0].backgroundColor[i];
 				if (labels[i]) {
-					text.push(labels[i]);
+					listItem.appendChild(document.createTextNode(labels[i]));
 				}
-				text.push('</li>');
 			}
 		}
 
-		text.push('</ul>');
-		return text.join('');
+		return list.outerHTML;
 	},
 	legend: {
 		labels: {
diff --git a/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js b/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
index 1e0e30ba2dd..76ca3b70cae 100644
--- a/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
+++ b/src/controllers/controller.polarArea.js
@@ -32,25 +32,25 @@ defaults._set('polarArea', {
 
 	startAngle: -0.5 * Math.PI,
 	legendCallback: function(chart) {
-		var text = [];
-		text.push('<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend">');
-
+		var list = document.createElement('ul');
 		var data = chart.data;
 		var datasets = data.datasets;
 		var labels = data.labels;
+		var i, ilen, listItem, listItemSpan;
 
+		list.setAttribute('class', chart.id + '-legend');
 		if (datasets.length) {
-			for (var i = 0; i < datasets[0].data.length; ++i) {
-				text.push('<li><span style="background-color:' + datasets[0].backgroundColor[i] + '"></span>');
+			for (i = 0, ilen = datasets[0].data.length; i < ilen; ++i) {
+				listItem = list.appendChild(document.createElement('li'));
+				listItemSpan = listItem.appendChild(document.createElement('span'));
+				listItemSpan.style.backgroundColor = datasets[0].backgroundColor[i];
 				if (labels[i]) {
-					text.push(labels[i]);
+					listItem.appendChild(document.createTextNode(labels[i]));
 				}
-				text.push('</li>');
 			}
 		}
 
-		text.push('</ul>');
-		return text.join('');
+		return list.outerHTML;
 	},
 	legend: {
 		labels: {
diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin.legend.js b/src/plugins/plugin.legend.js
index 91ff07a20bd..dc5b9325d6f 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin.legend.js
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin.legend.js
@@ -78,17 +78,22 @@ defaults._set('global', {
 	},
 
 	legendCallback: function(chart) {
-		var text = [];
-		text.push('<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend">');
-		for (var i = 0; i < chart.data.datasets.length; i++) {
-			text.push('<li><span style="background-color:' + chart.data.datasets[i].backgroundColor + '"></span>');
-			if (chart.data.datasets[i].label) {
-				text.push(chart.data.datasets[i].label);
+		var list = document.createElement('ul');
+		var datasets = chart.data.datasets;
+		var i, ilen, listItem, listItemSpan;
+
+		list.setAttribute('class', chart.id + '-legend');
+
+		for (i = 0, ilen = datasets.length; i < ilen; i++) {
+			listItem = list.appendChild(document.createElement('li'));
+			listItemSpan = listItem.appendChild(document.createElement('span'));
+			listItemSpan.style.backgroundColor = datasets[i].backgroundColor;
+			if (datasets[i].label) {
+				listItem.appendChild(document.createTextNode(datasets[i].label));
 			}
-			text.push('</li>');
 		}
-		text.push('</ul>');
-		return text.join('');
+
+		return list.outerHTML;
 	}
 });
 
diff --git a/test/specs/global.defaults.tests.js b/test/specs/global.defaults.tests.js
index a01284c1a0b..afef1aabf2a 100644
--- a/test/specs/global.defaults.tests.js
+++ b/test/specs/global.defaults.tests.js
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ describe('Default Configs', function() {
 				options: config
 			});
 
-			var expectedLegend = '<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend"><li><span style="background-color:red"></span>label1</li><li><span style="background-color:green"></span>label2</li></ul>';
+			var expectedLegend = '<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend"><li><span style="background-color: red;"></span>label1</li><li><span style="background-color: green;"></span>label2</li></ul>';
 			expect(chart.generateLegend()).toBe(expectedLegend);
 		});
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ describe('Default Configs', function() {
 				options: config
 			});
 
-			var expectedLegend = '<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend"><li><span style="background-color:red"></span>label1</li><li><span style="background-color:green"></span>label2</li></ul>';
+			var expectedLegend = '<ul class="' + chart.id + '-legend"><li><span style="background-color: red;"></span>label1</li><li><span style="background-color: green;"></span>label2</li></ul>';
 			expect(chart.generateLegend()).toBe(expectedLegend);
 		});