diff --git a/src/main/java/org/kohsuke/github/GHIssue.java b/src/main/java/org/kohsuke/github/GHIssue.java
index 961f27edc..ffaa515ca 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/kohsuke/github/GHIssue.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/kohsuke/github/GHIssue.java
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ public class GHIssue {
     }
 
     public Collection<String> getLabels() {
+        if(labels == null){
+            return Collections.EMPTY_LIST;
+        }
         return Collections.unmodifiableList(labels);
     }