diff --git a/ietf/secr/areas/views.py b/ietf/secr/areas/views.py
index 93e438cf8..9d016699c 100644
--- a/ietf/secr/areas/views.py
+++ b/ietf/secr/areas/views.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import json
  
 from django.contrib import messages
-from django.http import HttpResponse
+from django.http import HttpResponse, HttpResponseBadRequest
 from django.shortcuts import render, get_object_or_404, redirect
 
 from ietf.group.models import Group, GroupEvent, Role
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ def people(request, name):
 
                 messages.success(request, 'New Area Director added successfully!')
                 return redirect('ietf.secr.areas.views.view', name=name)
+        else:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest('Invalid action')
     else:
         form = AreaDirectorForm()
 
diff --git a/ietf/secr/templates/areas/people.html b/ietf/secr/templates/areas/people.html
index 7eeb77c59..8f9b18436 100644
--- a/ietf/secr/templates/areas/people.html
+++ b/ietf/secr/templates/areas/people.html
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@
                         <td>{% if director.name.slug == "ad" %}
                             Voting Enabled
                         {% else %}
-                            <button type="submit" name="submit">Enable Voting</button></td>
+                            <button type="submit" name="submit" value="Enable Voting">Enable Voting</button></td>
                         {% endif %}
-                            <td><button type="submit" name="submit">Retire</button></td>
+                            <td><button type="submit" name="submit" value="Retire">Retire</button></td>
                         </tr>
                     </form>
             {% endfor %}
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
                         {{ form.as_table }}
                         <tr>
                             <td></td>
-                            <td><button type="submit" name="submit">Add</button></td>
+                            <td><button type="submit" name="submit" value="Add">Add</button></td>
                         </tr>
                         </tbody>
                     </table>