diff --git a/common/static/js/course_groups/cohorts.js b/common/static/js/course_groups/cohorts.js
index aa3ce34b5b..97837c6bac 100644
--- a/common/static/js/course_groups/cohorts.js
+++ b/common/static/js/course_groups/cohorts.js
@@ -83,10 +83,11 @@ var CohortManager = (function ($) {
             cohort_id = el.data('id');
             state = state_detail;
             render();
+            return false;
         }
 
         function add_to_cohorts_list(item) {
-            var li = $('<li><a></a></li>');
+            var li = $('<li><a href="#"></a></li>');
             $("a", li).text(item.name)
                 .data('href', url + '/' + item.id)
                 .addClass('link')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
index 6a182665a8..2c1d3c68d5 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/forum/views.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def get_threads(request, course_id, discussion_id=None, per_page=THREADS_PER_PAG
 
 
     #if the course-user is cohorted, then add the group id
-    group_id = get_cohort_id(user,course_id)
+    group_id = get_cohort_id(user, course_id)
     if group_id:
         default_query_params["group_id"] = group_id