diff --git a/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/articles/default_stage_footer.php b/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/articles/default_stage_footer.php
index 593e4247ca339..d220ffba193f7 100644
--- a/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/articles/default_stage_footer.php
+++ b/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/articles/default_stage_footer.php
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 
 HTMLHelper::_('script', 'com_content/admin-articles-default-stage-footer.js', ['version' => 'auto', 'relative' => true]);
 ?>
-<a class="btn btn-secondary" type="button" data-dismiss="modal">
+<button class="btn btn-secondary" type="button" data-dismiss="modal">
 	<?php echo Text::_('JCANCEL'); ?>
-</a>
+</button>
 <button id="stage-submit-button-id" class="btn btn-success" type="button" data-submit-task="">
 	<?php echo Text::_('JGLOBAL_STAGE_PROCESS'); ?>
 </button>
diff --git a/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/featured/default_stage_footer.php b/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/featured/default_stage_footer.php
index 593e4247ca339..d220ffba193f7 100644
--- a/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/featured/default_stage_footer.php
+++ b/administrator/components/com_content/tmpl/featured/default_stage_footer.php
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 
 HTMLHelper::_('script', 'com_content/admin-articles-default-stage-footer.js', ['version' => 'auto', 'relative' => true]);
 ?>
-<a class="btn btn-secondary" type="button" data-dismiss="modal">
+<button class="btn btn-secondary" type="button" data-dismiss="modal">
 	<?php echo Text::_('JCANCEL'); ?>
-</a>
+</button>
 <button id="stage-submit-button-id" class="btn btn-success" type="button" data-submit-task="">
 	<?php echo Text::_('JGLOBAL_STAGE_PROCESS'); ?>
 </button>