diff --git a/lib/navigationlib.php b/lib/navigationlib.php
index 73913f2f21a..9d45700cff9 100644
--- a/lib/navigationlib.php
+++ b/lib/navigationlib.php
@@ -255,27 +255,6 @@ class navigation_node implements renderable {
         return ($count > 1);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Recursively walk the tree looking for a node with a valid action.
-     * Depth first search.
-     *
-     * @return bool
-     */
-    public function resolve_action() {
-        if ($this->action) {
-            return $this->action;
-        }
-        if (!empty($this->children)) {
-            foreach ($this->children as $child) {
-                $action = $child->resolve_action();
-                if (!empty($action)) {
-                    return $action;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        return false;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Get a list of sibling navigation nodes at the same level as this one.
      *
@@ -827,6 +806,21 @@ class navigation_node implements renderable {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Get the action url for this navigation node.
+     * Called from templates.
+     *
+     * @since Moodle 3.2
+     */
+    public function action() {
+        if ($this->action instanceof moodle_url) {
+            return $this->action;
+        } else if ($this->action instanceof action_link) {
+            return $this->action->url;
+        }
+        return $this->action;
+    }
 }
 
 /**