diff --git a/js/maxlength.js b/js/maxlength.js
index 7ad5ec1947b9b1663f058bcc75d17d00a1a8913b..4cd17acb108b4a06bcd668e1b291d27c2cb65790 100644
--- a/js/maxlength.js
+++ b/js/maxlength.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
         options['counterText'] = $this.attr('maxlength_js_label');
         if ($this.hasClass('maxlength_js_enforce')) {
           options['enforce'] = true;
+          options.cssExceeded = 'error';
         }
         $this.charCount(options);
 
@@ -339,7 +340,7 @@
       css: 'counter',
       counterElement: 'div',
       cssWarning: 'warning',
-      cssExceeded: 'error',
+      cssExceeded: 'soft-error',
       counterText: Drupal.t('Content limited to @limit characters, remaining: <strong>@remaining</strong>'),
       action: 'attach',
       enforce: false,