diff --git a/CRM/Case/Form/Case.php b/CRM/Case/Form/Case.php
index 8c2312c1c734..9e3e2897c35b 100644
--- a/CRM/Case/Form/Case.php
+++ b/CRM/Case/Form/Case.php
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ class CRM_Case_Form_Case extends CRM_Core_Form {
    * Build the form object.
    */
   public function preProcess() {
+    if (empty($this->_action)) {
+      $this->_action = CRM_Core_Action::ADD;
+    }
 
     $this->_caseId = CRM_Utils_Request::retrieve('id', 'Positive', $this);