diff --git a/ietf/submit/tests.py b/ietf/submit/tests.py
index 6eeaa47c5..81534aaad 100644
--- a/ietf/submit/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/submit/tests.py
@@ -2878,7 +2878,7 @@ class ApiSubmissionTests(BaseSubmitTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
         self.assertEqual(
             r.json(),
-            {'id': str(s.pk), 'state': 'validating'},
+            {'id': str(s.pk), 'state': 'validating', 'state_desc': s.state.name},
         )
 
         s.state_id = 'uploaded'
@@ -2887,7 +2887,7 @@ class ApiSubmissionTests(BaseSubmitTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
         self.assertEqual(
             r.json(),
-            {'id': str(s.pk), 'state': 'uploaded'},
+            {'id': str(s.pk), 'state': 'uploaded', 'state_desc': s.state.name},
         )
 
         # try an invalid one
diff --git a/ietf/submit/views.py b/ietf/submit/views.py
index b198d38f4..798fbf307 100644
--- a/ietf/submit/views.py
+++ b/ietf/submit/views.py
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ def api_submission_status(request, submission_id):
         {
             'id': str(submission.pk),
             'state': submission.state.slug,
+            'state_desc': submission.state.name,
         }
     )