We show that the involution $\theta(a\otimes b)=a^*\otimes b^*$ on the Haagerup tensor product $A\otimes_{\mrm{H}}B$ of $C^*$-algebras $A$ and $B$ is an isometry if and only if $A$ and $B$ are commutative. The involutive Banach algebra $A\otimes_{\mrm{H}}A$ arising from the involution $a\otimes b\to b^*\otimes a^*$ is also studied.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 46L05; 46M05