diff --git a/core/attributedef.class.inc.php b/core/attributedef.class.inc.php
index 90e6b4caa..d7cfbf370 100644
--- a/core/attributedef.class.inc.php
+++ b/core/attributedef.class.inc.php
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 use Combodo\iTop\Form\Field\LabelField;
+use Combodo\iTop\Form\Field\TextAreaField;
 use Combodo\iTop\Form\Validator\NotEmptyExtKeyValidator;
 use Combodo\iTop\Form\Validator\Validator;
 
@@ -7449,6 +7450,12 @@ class AttributeExternalField extends AttributeDefinition
 			}
 		}
 		parent::MakeFormField($oObject, $oFormField);
+		if ($oFormField instanceof TextAreaField) {
+			if (method_exists($oRemoteAttDef, 'GetFormat')) {
+				/** @var \Combodo\iTop\Form\Field\TextAreaField $oFormField */
+				$oFormField->SetFormat($oRemoteAttDef->GetFormat());
+			}
+		}
 
 		// Manually setting for remote ExternalKey, otherwise, the id would be displayed.
 		if ($oRemoteAttDef instanceof AttributeExternalKey)