diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
index 023f37562f..2714c8aa3a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/tests.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         data = {'location': self.location}
 
         r = self.peer_module.get_next_submission(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['submission_id'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['prompt'])
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
     def test_get_next_submission_missing_location(self):
         data = {}
         r = self.peer_module.get_next_submission(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertFalse(d['success'])
         self.assertEqual(d['error'], "Missing required keys: location")
 
@@ -174,27 +174,27 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         data = 'rubric_scores[]=1|rubric_scores[]=2|location=' + location + '|submission_id=1|submission_key=fake key|score=2|feedback=feedback|submission_flagged=False'
         qdict = QueryDict(data.replace("|","&"))
         r = self.peer_module.save_grade(qdict)
-        d = json.loads(r.content)
+        d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
 
     def test_save_grade_missing_keys(self):
         data = {}
         r = self.peer_module.save_grade(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertFalse(d['success'])
         self.assertTrue(d['error'].find('Missing required keys:') > -1)
 
     def test_is_calibrated_success(self):
         data = {'location': self.location}
         r = self.peer_module.is_student_calibrated(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertTrue('calibrated' in d)
 
     def test_is_calibrated_failure(self):
         data = {}
         r = self.peer_module.is_student_calibrated(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertFalse(d['success'])
         self.assertFalse('calibrated' in d)
 
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         data = {'location': self.location}
 
         r = self.peer_module.show_calibration_essay(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['submission_id'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(d['prompt'])
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
         data = {}
 
         r = self.peer_module.show_calibration_essay(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
 
         self.assertFalse(d['success'])
         self.assertEqual(d['error'], "Missing required keys: location")
@@ -226,14 +226,14 @@ class TestPeerGradingService(ct.PageLoader):
                 'feedback': 'This is feedback',
                 'rubric_scores[]': [1, 2]}
         r = self.peer_module.save_calibration_essay(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertTrue(d['success'])
         self.assertTrue('actual_score' in d)
 
     def test_save_calibration_essay_missing_keys(self):
         data = {}
         r = self.peer_module.save_calibration_essay(data)
-        d = json.loads(r)
+        d = r
         self.assertFalse(d['success'])
         self.assertTrue(d['error'].find('Missing required keys:') > -1)
         self.assertFalse('actual_score' in d)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
index 374eaec375..af7f930207 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/open_ended_grading/views.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def peer_grading(request, course_id):
         return HttpResponseRedirect(problem_url)
     except:
         error_message = "Error with initializing peer grading.  Centralized module does not exist.  Please contact course staff."
-        log.error(error_message + "Current course is: {0}".format(course_id))
+        log.exception(error_message + "Current course is: {0}".format(course_id))
         return HttpResponse(error_message)
 
 def generate_problem_url(problem_url_parts, base_course_url):
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ def generate_problem_url(problem_url_parts, base_course_url):
             if z==1:
                 problem_url += "courseware/"
             problem_url += part + "/"
+    return problem_url
 
 
 @cache_control(no_cache=True, no_store=True, must_revalidate=True)