diff --git a/changes/src/plugin-resources/changes.jsl b/changes/src/plugin-resources/changes.jsl
index 391fb370..20dac269 100644
--- a/changes/src/plugin-resources/changes.jsl
+++ b/changes/src/plugin-resources/changes.jsl
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
         <td><img src="images/${type}.gif" alt="${type}"/></td>
         <td>
           <jsl:applyTemplates trim="false"/>
-          <j:if test="${issue != null}">
+          <j:if test="${issue != ''}">
             <j:useBean var="finder" class="org.apache.maven.changes.IssueFinder"/>
             <j:set var="template" value="${maven.changes.issue.template}"/>
             <j:set var="trackerURL" value="${pom.issueTrackingUrl}"/>