diff --git a/lib/github-helpers.js b/lib/github-helpers.js
index 895947c..1b34d9b 100644
--- a/lib/github-helpers.js
+++ b/lib/github-helpers.js
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ async function _getProjectCardForIssue (github, columnId, issueUrl) {
 }
 
 async function _getOrgProjectByName (github, robot, orgName, projectName, botName) {
+  if (!projectName) {
+    return null
+  }
+
   try {
     // Fetch org projects
     // TODO: The org project and project column info should be cached
@@ -107,6 +111,10 @@ async function _getOrgProjectByName (github, robot, orgName, projectName, botNam
 }
 
 async function _getRepoProjectByName (github, robot, repoInfo, projectName, botName) {
+  if (!projectName) {
+    return null
+  }
+
   try {
     const ghprojectsPayload = await github.projects.getRepoProjects({ ...repoInfo, state: 'open' })
     const project = ghprojectsPayload.data.find(p => p.name === projectName)
@@ -128,6 +136,9 @@ async function _getProjectColumnByName (github, robot, project, columnName, botN
   if (!project) {
     return null
   }
+  if (!columnName) {
+    return null
+  }
 
   try {
     const ghcolumnsPayload = await github.projects.getProjectColumns({ project_id: project.id })