diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py b/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
index f4c6fd3d7c..321c521045 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ class CourseGradingModel(object):
             if 'grace_period' in graceperiodjson:
                 graceperiodjson = graceperiodjson['grace_period']
 
-            grace_rep = " ".join(["%s %s" % (value, key) for (key, value) in graceperiodjson.iteritems()])
+            # lms requires these to be in a fixed order
+            grace_rep = "{0[hours]:d} hours {0[minutes]:d} minutes {0[seconds]:d} seconds".format(graceperiodjson) 
 
             descriptor = get_modulestore(course_location).get_item(course_location)
             descriptor.metadata['graceperiod'] = grace_rep
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/settings/main_settings_view.js b/cms/static/js/views/settings/main_settings_view.js
index 826b385dff..f4c7df41a6 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/settings/main_settings_view.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/settings/main_settings_view.js
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ CMS.Views.Settings.Details = CMS.Views.ValidatingView.extend({
                     time = 0;
                 }
                 var newVal = new Date(date.getTime() + time * 1000);
-                if (cacheModel.get(fieldName).getTime() !== newVal.getTime()) {
+                if (!cacheModel.has(fieldName) || cacheModel.get(fieldName).getTime() !== newVal.getTime()) {
                     cacheModel.save(fieldName, newVal, { error: CMS.ServerError});
                 }
             }