diff --git a/models/issues/issue_project.go b/models/issues/issue_project.go
index f89dd46280..85a05b13b4 100644
--- a/models/issues/issue_project.go
+++ b/models/issues/issue_project.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 // LoadProject load the project the issue was assigned to
 func (issue *Issue) LoadProjects(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
-	if len(issue.Projects) == 0 {
+	if issue.Projects == nil {
 		err = db.GetEngine(ctx).Table("project").
 			Join("INNER", "project_issue", "project.id=project_issue.project_id").
 			Where("project_issue.issue_id = ?", issue.ID).Find(&issue.Projects)