diff --git a/models/action.go b/models/action.go
index c736fabf38b..9897a879b71 100644
--- a/models/action.go
+++ b/models/action.go
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ func UpdateIssuesCommit(doer *User, repo *Repository, commits []*PushCommit) err
 
 			issue, err := GetIssueByRef(ref)
 			if err != nil {
-				if IsErrIssueNotExist(err) {
+				if IsErrIssueNotExist(err) || err == errMissingIssueNumber {
 					continue
 				}
 				return err
diff --git a/modules/github/issues.go b/modules/github/issues.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d