diff --git a/src/course-home/data/api.js b/src/course-home/data/api.js
index 031bb273..d3efe2b9 100644
--- a/src/course-home/data/api.js
+++ b/src/course-home/data/api.js
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export async function getProgressTabData(courseId) {
 }
 
 export async function getProctoringInfoData(courseId) {
-  const url = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/edx_proctoring/v1/user_onboarding/status?course_id=${courseId}`;
+  const url = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/edx_proctoring/v1/user_onboarding/status?course_id=${encodeURIComponent(courseId)}`;
   try {
     const { data } = await getAuthenticatedHttpClient().get(url);
     return data;
diff --git a/src/course-home/outline-tab/OutlineTab.test.jsx b/src/course-home/outline-tab/OutlineTab.test.jsx
index bbfda389..b10539b0 100644
--- a/src/course-home/outline-tab/OutlineTab.test.jsx
+++ b/src/course-home/outline-tab/OutlineTab.test.jsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ describe('Outline Tab', () => {
   const enrollmentUrl = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/enrollment/v1/enrollment`;
   const goalUrl = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/course_home/v1/save_course_goal`;
   const outlineUrl = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/course_home/v1/outline/${courseId}`;
-  const proctoringInfoUrl = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/edx_proctoring/v1/user_onboarding/status?course_id=${courseId}`;
+  const proctoringInfoUrl = `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/edx_proctoring/v1/user_onboarding/status?course_id=${encodeURIComponent(courseId)}`;
 
   const store = initializeStore();
   const defaultMetadata = Factory.build('courseHomeMetadata', { courseId });
@@ -499,6 +499,14 @@ describe('Outline Tab', () => {
       expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: 'Review instructions and system requirements' })).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
+    it('appears for no status', async () => {
+      axiosMock.onGet(proctoringInfoUrl).reply(200, { onboarding_status: '', onboarding_link: 'test' });
+      await fetchAndRender();
+      await screen.findByText('This course contains proctored exams');
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: 'Complete Onboarding' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: 'Review instructions and system requirements' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     it('does not appear for 404', async () => {
       axiosMock.onGet(proctoringInfoUrl).reply(404);
       expect(screen.queryByRole('link', { name: 'Review instructions and system requirements' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
diff --git a/src/course-home/outline-tab/widgets/ProctoringInfoPanel.jsx b/src/course-home/outline-tab/widgets/ProctoringInfoPanel.jsx
index 915bf100..16d3bb83 100644
--- a/src/course-home/outline-tab/widgets/ProctoringInfoPanel.jsx
+++ b/src/course-home/outline-tab/widgets/ProctoringInfoPanel.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 
+import { getConfig } from '@edx/frontend-platform';
 import { injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { Button } from '@edx/paragon';
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ function ProctoringInfoPanel({ courseId, intl }) {
 
   return (
     <>
-      { status && (
+      { link && (
         <section className={`mb-4 p-3 outline-sidebar-proctoring-panel ${getBorderClass(status)}`}>
           <h2 className="h4" id="outline-sidebar-upgrade-header">{intl.formatMessage(messages.proctoringInfoPanel)}</h2>
           <div>
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ function ProctoringInfoPanel({ courseId, intl }) {
               </>
             )}
             {showExamLink(status) && (
-              <Button variant="primary" block href={link}>
+              <Button variant="primary" block href={`${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}${link}`}>
                 {intl.formatMessage(messages.proctoringOnboardingButton)}
               </Button>
             )}