diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
index 9fa550e39..2d08c12f0 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
@@ -413,7 +413,8 @@ define(function(require){
             help: 'toggle marks',
             icon: 'fa-check',
             handler : function(env){
-                env.notebook.get_selected_cell.marked ^= true;
+                // Use bitwise logic to toggle the marked state.
+                env.notebook.get_selected_cell().marked ^= true;
             }
         },
     };
diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
index bf38dd673..558039ad9 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/cell.js
@@ -293,7 +293,10 @@ define([
         },
         set: function(value) {
             var isMarked = this.element.hasClass('marked');
-            if (isMarked !== value) {
+            // Use a casting comparison.  Allows for the caller to assign 0 or
+            // 1 instead of a boolean value, which in return means the caller
+            // can do cell.marked ^= true to toggle the mark.
+            if (isMarked != value) {
                 if (value) {
                     this.element.addClass('marked');
                 } else {