diff --git a/lib/outputcomponents.php b/lib/outputcomponents.php
index 872d573c6ea..6d609154749 100644
--- a/lib/outputcomponents.php
+++ b/lib/outputcomponents.php
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ class action_link implements renderable {
     public function __construct(moodle_url $url, $text, component_action $action=null, array $attributes=null) {
         $this->url       = clone($url);
         $this->text      = $text;
-        if ($actions) {
+        if ($action) {
             $this->add_action($action);
         }
     }
diff --git a/lib/outputrenderers.php b/lib/outputrenderers.php
index 09c0edde93d..4eee2af0a84 100644
--- a/lib/outputrenderers.php
+++ b/lib/outputrenderers.php
@@ -932,7 +932,7 @@ class core_renderer extends renderer_base {
         }
         $link = new action_link($url, $text, $action, $attributes);
 
-        $this->render($link);
+        return $this->render($link);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -954,7 +954,7 @@ class core_renderer extends renderer_base {
         $attributes['href'] = $link->url;
 
         if ($link->actions) {
-            if (empty($attributes[$id])) {
+            if (empty($attributes['id'])) {
                 $id = html_writer::random_id('action_link');
                 $attributes['id'] = $id;
             } else {