diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
index e738d8e031..deb6f13e20 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_capa_module.py
@@ -658,11 +658,11 @@ class CapaModuleTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
         # Simulate answering a problem that raises the exception
         with patch('capa.capa_problem.LoncapaProblem.rescore_existing_answers') as mock_rescore:
-            mock_rescore.side_effect = exception_class(u'test error u\03a9')
+            mock_rescore.side_effect = exception_class(u'test error \u03a9')
             result = module.rescore_problem()
 
         # Expect an AJAX alert message in 'success'
-        expected_msg = u'Error: test error u\03a9'
+        expected_msg = u'Error: test error \u03a9'
         self.assertEqual(result['success'], expected_msg)
 
         # Expect that the number of attempts is NOT incremented
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/models.py
index f95897859e..f1ebf814fa 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/models.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class InstructorTask(models.Model):
                           task_input=json_task_input,
                           task_state=QUEUING,
                           requester=requester)
-        instructor_task.save()
+        instructor_task.save_now()
 
         return instructor_task
 
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ class InstructorTask(models.Model):
 
         Truncation is indicated by adding "..." to the end of the value.
         """
+        tag = '...'
         task_progress = {'exception': type(exception).__name__, 'message': str(exception.message)}
         if traceback_string is not None:
             # truncate any traceback that goes into the InstructorTask model:
@@ -135,17 +136,17 @@ class InstructorTask(models.Model):
         too_long = len(json_output) - 1023
         if too_long > 0:
             if traceback_string is not None:
-                if too_long >= len(traceback_string) - len('...'):
+                if too_long >= len(traceback_string) - len(tag):
                     # remove the traceback entry entirely (so no key or value)
                     del task_progress['traceback']
                     too_long -= (len(traceback_string) + len('traceback'))
                 else:
                     # truncate the traceback:
-                    task_progress['traceback'] = traceback_string[:-(too_long + 3)] + "..."
-                    too_long = -1
+                    task_progress['traceback'] = traceback_string[:-(too_long + len(tag))] + tag
+                    too_long = 0
             if too_long > 0:
                 # we need to shorten the message:
-                task_progress['message'] = task_progress['message'][:-(too_long + 3)] + "..."
+                task_progress['message'] = task_progress['message'][:-(too_long + len(tag))] + tag
             json_output = json.dumps(task_progress)
         return json_output
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/tests/test_api.py
index 6ab710eef9..841fdca8a0 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/tests/test_api.py
@@ -109,10 +109,10 @@ class InstructorTaskSubmitTest(InstructorTaskModuleTestCase):
         location = InstructorTaskModuleTestCase.problem_location(problem_url_name)
         if student is not None:
             instructor_task = task_function(self.create_task_request(self.instructor),
-                                         self.course.id, location, student)
+                                            self.course.id, location, student)
         else:
             instructor_task = task_function(self.create_task_request(self.instructor),
-                                         self.course.id, location)
+                                            self.course.id, location)
 
         # test resubmitting, by updating the existing record:
         instructor_task = InstructorTask.objects.get(id=instructor_task.id)
diff --git a/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html b/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
index 19c6cef70b..ef1eb174fc 100644
--- a/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
+++ b/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
@@ -205,8 +205,8 @@ function goto( mode)
     </p>
     <p>
       You may use just the "urlname" if a problem, or "modulename/urlname" if not.
-      (For example, if the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/problem/problemname</tt>, 
-      then just provide the <tt>problemname</tt>.  
+      (For example, if the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/problem/problemname</tt>,
+      then just provide the <tt>problemname</tt>.
       If the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/notaproblem/someothername</tt>, then
       provide <tt>notaproblem/someothername</tt>.)
     </p>
@@ -241,8 +241,8 @@ function goto( mode)
     </p>
     <p>
       You may use just the "urlname" if a problem, or "modulename/urlname" if not.
-      (For example, if the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/problem/problemname</tt>, 
-      then just provide the <tt>problemname</tt>.  
+      (For example, if the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/problem/problemname</tt>,
+      then just provide the <tt>problemname</tt>.
       If the location is <tt>i4x://university/course/notaproblem/someothername</tt>, then
       provide <tt>notaproblem/someothername</tt>.)
     </p>