diff --git a/src/components/views/auth/InteractiveAuthEntryComponents.js b/src/components/views/auth/InteractiveAuthEntryComponents.js
index aaf8c88440..db73467ff7 100644
--- a/src/components/views/auth/InteractiveAuthEntryComponents.js
+++ b/src/components/views/auth/InteractiveAuthEntryComponents.js
@@ -598,7 +598,10 @@ export const FallbackAuthEntry = createReactClass({
         }
     },
 
-    _onShowFallbackClick: function() {
+    _onShowFallbackClick: function(e) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+
         const url = this.props.matrixClient.getFallbackAuthUrl(
             this.props.loginType,
             this.props.authSessionId,
@@ -627,7 +630,7 @@ export const FallbackAuthEntry = createReactClass({
         }
         return (
             <div>
-                <a ref={this._fallbackButton} onClick={this._onShowFallbackClick}>{ _t("Start authentication") }</a>
+                <a href="" ref={this._fallbackButton} onClick={this._onShowFallbackClick}>{ _t("Start authentication") }</a>
                 {errorSection}
             </div>
         );