diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
index 20878b8393..2971ffa9a7 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ def _course_outline_json(request, course_module):
     """
     Returns a JSON representation of the course module and recursively all of its children.
     """
-    is_concise = request.GET.get('formats') == 'concise'
+    is_concise = request.GET.get('format') == 'concise'
     include_children_predicate = lambda xblock: not xblock.category == 'vertical'
     if is_concise:
         include_children_predicate = lambda xblock: xblock.has_children
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_course_index.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_course_index.py
index f2b89be6be..37c9792b3f 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_course_index.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_course_index.py
@@ -369,9 +369,8 @@ class TestCourseOutline(CourseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(json_response['category'], 'course')
         self.assertEqual(json_response['id'], unicode(self.course.location))
         self.assertEqual(json_response['display_name'], self.course.display_name)
-        if not is_concise:
-            self.assertTrue(json_response['published'])
-            self.assertIsNone(json_response['visibility_state'])
+        self.assertNotEqual(json_response.get('published', False), is_concise)
+        self.assertIsNone(json_response.get('visibility_state'))
 
         # Now verify the first child
         children = json_response['child_info']['children']
@@ -380,8 +379,8 @@ class TestCourseOutline(CourseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(first_child_response['category'], 'chapter')
         self.assertEqual(first_child_response['id'], unicode(self.chapter.location))
         self.assertEqual(first_child_response['display_name'], 'Week 1')
+        self.assertNotEqual(json_response.get('published', False), is_concise)
         if not is_concise:
-            self.assertTrue(json_response['published'])
             self.assertEqual(first_child_response['visibility_state'], VisibilityState.unscheduled)
         self.assertGreater(len(first_child_response['child_info']['children']), 0)
 
@@ -395,8 +394,7 @@ class TestCourseOutline(CourseTestCase):
         self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['display_name'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['id'])
         self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['category'])
-        if not is_concise:
-            self.assertTrue(json_response['published'])
+        self.assertNotEqual(json_response.get('published', False), is_concise)
         if json_response.get('child_info', None):
             for child_response in json_response['child_info']['children']:
                 self.assert_correct_json_response(child_response, is_concise)