diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index b92d10a2d..5c832144a 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ class Project < ApplicationRecord
   validates_format_of :identifier, :with => /\A(?!\d+$)[a-z0-9\-_]*\z/,
                       :if => proc {|p| p.identifier_changed?}
   # reserved words
-  validates_exclusion_of :identifier, :in => %w(new)
+  validates_exclusion_of :identifier,
+                         :in => %w(new autocomplete bulk_destroy),
+                         :if => -> { new_record? || will_save_change_to_identifier? }
   validate :validate_parent
 
   after_update :update_versions_from_hierarchy_change,
diff --git a/test/unit/project_test.rb b/test/unit/project_test.rb
index f8b7e64ed..7a9cf7dc6 100644
--- a/test/unit/project_test.rb
+++ b/test/unit/project_test.rb
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ class ProjectTest < ActiveSupport::TestCase
                "ab-12" => true,
                "ab_12" => true,
                "12" => false,
+               "autocomplete" => false,
+               'bulk_destroy' => false,
                "new" => false}
 
     to_test.each do |identifier, valid|