diff --git a/course/classes/management_renderer.php b/course/classes/management_renderer.php
index 3de3c7a5bbf..08373bc9220 100644
--- a/course/classes/management_renderer.php
+++ b/course/classes/management_renderer.php
@@ -378,6 +378,10 @@ class core_course_management_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
         if (!$hasitems) {
             return '';
         }
+
+        // If the action menu has items, add the menubar role to the main element containing it.
+        $menu->attributes['role'] = 'menubar';
+
         return $this->render($menu);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/outputcomponents.php b/lib/outputcomponents.php
index 1c962d78a3b..cea427f26cd 100644
--- a/lib/outputcomponents.php
+++ b/lib/outputcomponents.php
@@ -4237,7 +4237,6 @@ class action_menu implements renderable, templatable {
         $this->attributesprimary = array(
             'id' => 'action-menu-'.$this->instance.'-menubar',
             'class' => 'menubar',
-            'role' => 'menubar'
         );
         $this->attributessecondary = array(
             'id' => 'action-menu-'.$this->instance.'-menu',