diff --git a/ursh/indico_ursh/controllers.py b/ursh/indico_ursh/controllers.py
index 289c0de..72d70b9 100644
--- a/ursh/indico_ursh/controllers.py
+++ b/ursh/indico_ursh/controllers.py
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ class RHCustomShortURLPage(RHManageEventBase):
                                                 event=self.event,
                                                 ursh_host=self.ursh_host,
                                                 original_url=original_url,
-                                                submitted=False)
+                                                submitted=False,
+                                                shortcut=None)
 
     def _process_POST(self):
         original_url = self._make_absolute_url(request.args['original_url'])
diff --git a/ursh/indico_ursh/templates/ursh_shortener_page.html b/ursh/indico_ursh/templates/ursh_shortener_page.html
index 05d1cfb..6ea1456 100644
--- a/ursh/indico_ursh/templates/ursh_shortener_page.html
+++ b/ursh/indico_ursh/templates/ursh_shortener_page.html
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     <div id="ursh-shorten-request-form" class="i-has-action">
         <input id="ursh-shorten-input" name="ursh-shorten-original-url" type="url" style="font-family:monospace;"
                spellcheck="false" autocomplete="off" autocapitalize="off"
-               value="{{ request.args.url }}"
+               value="{{ request.args.get('url', '') }}"
                placeholder="{% trans %}Enter an Indico URL to shorten...{% endtrans %}">
         <button id="ursh-shorten-button" type="button" class="i-button">{% trans %}Shorten{% endtrans %}</button>
     </div>