diff --git a/django/contrib/admin/options.py b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
index 5c16dcfad1..1703dd333e 100644
--- a/django/contrib/admin/options.py
+++ b/django/contrib/admin/options.py
@@ -857,6 +857,10 @@ class ModelAdmin(BaseModelAdmin):
         return helpers.checkbox.render(helpers.ACTION_CHECKBOX_NAME, str(obj.pk))
     action_checkbox.short_description = mark_safe('<input type="checkbox" id="action-toggle">')
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_action_description(func, name):
+        return getattr(func, 'short_description', capfirst(name.replace('_', ' ')))
+
     def _get_base_actions(self):
         """Return the list of actions, prior to any request-based filtering."""
         actions = []
@@ -869,7 +873,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(BaseModelAdmin):
         for (name, func) in self.admin_site.actions:
             if name in base_action_names:
                 continue
-            description = getattr(func, 'short_description', name.replace('_', ' '))
+            description = self._get_action_description(func, name)
             actions.append((func, name, description))
         # Add actions from this ModelAdmin.
         actions.extend(base_actions)
@@ -938,10 +942,7 @@ class ModelAdmin(BaseModelAdmin):
             except KeyError:
                 return None
 
-        if hasattr(func, 'short_description'):
-            description = func.short_description
-        else:
-            description = capfirst(action.replace('_', ' '))
+        description = self._get_action_description(func, action)
         return func, action, description
 
     def get_list_display(self, request):
diff --git a/tests/modeladmin/test_actions.py b/tests/modeladmin/test_actions.py
index 76f2f96c03..f7de725ffc 100644
--- a/tests/modeladmin/test_actions.py
+++ b/tests/modeladmin/test_actions.py
@@ -77,6 +77,31 @@ class AdminActionsTests(TestCase):
         action_names = [name for _, name, _ in ma2._get_base_actions()]
         self.assertEqual(action_names, ['delete_selected'])
 
+    def test_global_actions_description(self):
+        def global_action_1(modeladmin, request, queryset):
+            pass
+
+        def global_action_2(modeladmin, request, queryset):
+            pass
+
+        global_action_1.short_description = 'Site-wide admin action 1.'
+        admin_site = admin.AdminSite()
+        admin_site.add_action(global_action_1)
+        admin_site.add_action(global_action_2)
+
+        class BandAdmin(admin.ModelAdmin):
+            pass
+
+        ma = BandAdmin(Band, admin_site)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [description for _, _, description in ma._get_base_actions()],
+            [
+                'Delete selected %(verbose_name_plural)s',
+                'Site-wide admin action 1.',
+                'Global action 2',
+            ],
+        )
+
     def test_actions_replace_global_action(self):
         def global_action_1(modeladmin, request, queryset):
             pass