diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 2b8332baa63..2a3b4f9a66a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -2428,7 +2428,6 @@ def _list_instructor_tasks(request, course_id, serialize_data=None):
     # The query_params attribute is utilized for GET requests,
     # where parameters are passed as query strings.
 
-    include_canvas = request.GET.get('include_canvas') is not None
     course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_id)
     if serialize_data is not None:
         problem_location_str = strip_if_string(serialize_data.get('problem_location_str', False))
@@ -2457,7 +2456,7 @@ def _list_instructor_tasks(request, course_id, serialize_data=None):
         else:
             # Specifying for single problem's history
             tasks = task_api.get_instructor_task_history(course_id, module_state_key)
-    elif include_canvas:
+    elif request.GET.get('include_canvas') is not None:
         from ol_openedx_canvas_integration.task_helpers import get_filtered_instructor_tasks
         tasks = get_filtered_instructor_tasks(course_id, request.user)
     else:
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/views.py
index 3da3657d465..5907b315ec1 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor_task/views.py
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ def get_task_completion_info(instructor_task):  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=
     problem_url = None
     entrance_exam_url = None
     email_id = None
-    course_id = None
     try:
         task_input = json.loads(instructor_task.task_input)
     except ValueError:
@@ -151,7 +150,6 @@ def get_task_completion_info(instructor_task):  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=
         problem_url = task_input.get('problem_url')
         entrance_exam_url = task_input.get('entrance_exam_url')
         email_id = task_input.get('email_id')
-        course_id = task_input.get('course_key')
 
     if instructor_task.task_state == PROGRESS:
         # special message for providing progress updates:
@@ -195,7 +193,7 @@ def get_task_completion_info(instructor_task):  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=
         else:  # num_succeeded < num_attempted
             # Translators: {action} is a past-tense verb that is localized separately. {succeeded} and {attempted} are counts.  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=line-too-long
             msg_format = _("Problem {action} for {succeeded} of {attempted} students")
-    elif course_id is not None:
+    elif task_input and task_input.get('course_key'):
         from ol_openedx_canvas_integration.utils import get_task_output_formatted_message
         msg_format = get_task_output_formatted_message(task_output)
         succeeded = True