diff --git a/src/js/_enqueues/admin/tags-suggest.js b/src/js/_enqueues/admin/tags-suggest.js
index 7a19002a4c..0381f0053c 100644
--- a/src/js/_enqueues/admin/tags-suggest.js
+++ b/src/js/_enqueues/admin/tags-suggest.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 
 		// Do not initialize if the element doesn't exist.
 		if ( ! $element.length ) {
-			return;
+			return this;
 		}
 
 		options = options || {};
@@ -156,14 +156,16 @@
 		$element.autocomplete( options );
 
 		// Ensure the autocomplete instance exists.
-		if ( $element.autocomplete( 'instance' ) ) {
-			$element.autocomplete( 'instance' )._renderItem = function( ul, item ) {
-				return $( '<li role="option" id="wp-tags-autocomplete-' + item.id + '">' )
-					.text( item.name )
-					.appendTo( ul );
-			};
+		if ( ! $element.autocomplete( 'instance' ) ) {
+			return this;
 		}
 
+		$element.autocomplete( 'instance' )._renderItem = function( ul, item ) {
+			return $( '<li role="option" id="wp-tags-autocomplete-' + item.id + '">' )
+				.text( item.name )
+				.appendTo( ul );
+		};
+
 		$element.attr( {
 			'role': 'combobox',
 			'aria-autocomplete': 'list',
@@ -178,9 +180,10 @@
 			if ( inputValue ) {
 				$element.autocomplete( 'search' );
 			}
-		} )
+		} );
+
 		// Returns a jQuery object containing the menu element.
-		.autocomplete( 'widget' )
+		$element.autocomplete( 'widget' )
 			.addClass( 'wp-tags-autocomplete' )
 			.attr( 'role', 'listbox' )
 			.removeAttr( 'tabindex' ) // Remove the `tabindex=0` attribute added by jQuery UI.