diff --git a/lib/gitlab/github_import/importer.rb b/lib/gitlab/github_import/importer.rb
index bd7340a80f18ca49c6724d8d9cb81aa5577eb128..b5720f6e2cb57f5b66d6a47e91bd315f258354c5 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/github_import/importer.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/github_import/importer.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module Gitlab
           if issue.pull_request.nil?
 
             body = @formatter.author_line(issue.user.login)
-            body += issue.body
+            body += issue.body || ""
 
             if issue.comments > 0
               body += @formatter.comments_header