diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
index 708afdf98c..7bb963ec6e 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def _make_section_data(section):
         sequences_data.append(
             CourseLearningSequenceData(
                 usage_key=_remove_version_info(sequence.location),
-                title=sequence.display_name,
+                title=sequence.display_name_with_default,
                 inaccessible_after_due=sequence.hide_after_due,
                 exam=ExamData(
                     is_practice_exam=sequence.is_practice_exam,
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def _make_section_data(section):
 
     section_data = CourseSectionData(
         usage_key=_remove_version_info(section.location),
-        title=section.display_name,
+        title=section.display_name_with_default,
         sequences=sequences_data,
         visibility=VisibilityData(
             hide_from_toc=section.hide_from_toc,
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def get_outline_from_modulestore(course_key):
 
         course_outline_data = CourseOutlineData(
             course_key=course_key,
-            title=course.display_name,
+            title=course.display_name_with_default,
 
             # subtree_edited_on has a tzinfo of bson.tz_util.FixedOffset (which
             # maps to UTC), but for consistency, we're going to use the standard
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
index 12f495cc1e..4454182ea0 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
@@ -209,6 +209,26 @@ class OutlineFromModuleStoreTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         with self.assertRaises(CourseStructureError):
             get_outline_from_modulestore(self.course_key)
 
+    def test_missing_display_names(self):
+        """
+        When display_names are empty, it should fallback on url_names.
+        """
+        with self.store.bulk_operations(self.course_key):
+            section = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent_location=self.draft_course.location,
+                category='chapter',
+                display_name=None,
+            )
+            sequence = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent_location=section.location,
+                category='sequential',
+                display_name=None,
+            )
+
+        outline = get_outline_from_modulestore(self.course_key)
+        assert outline.sections[0].title == section.url_name
+        assert outline.sections[0].sequences[0].title == sequence.url_name
+
     def _outline_seq_data(self, modulestore_seq):
         """
         (CourseLearningSequenceData, UsageKey) for a Modulestore sequence.