ember js click action does not work from within button tag in internet explorer

In the below code, #1(div) works fine but #2(button) doesn't in Internet Explorer. It however works fine in chrome

1

<div class="option-item btn btn-tag">
  Status: STATUS
  <span class="gel-icon-close" {{action "checkAction" }}></span>
</div>

2

<button class="option-item btn btn-tag">
  Status: STATUS
  <span class="gel-icon-close" {{action "checkAction" }}></span>
</button>

Just for reference: The controller has

actions: {
    checkAction: function (val) {
      window.alert('clicked' + val);
    }
  }