diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/utils/github.rb b/Library/Homebrew/utils/github.rb
index c64f7cdbfc..48f1411bb9 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/utils/github.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/utils/github.rb
@@ -61,7 +61,9 @@ module GitHub
     end
   end
 
-  def issues_for_formula(name, tap: CoreTap.instance, tap_remote_repo: tap.full_name, state: nil)
+  def issues_for_formula(name, tap: CoreTap.instance, tap_remote_repo: tap&.full_name, state: nil)
+    return [] unless tap_remote_repo
+
     search_issues(name, repo: tap_remote_repo, state: state, in: "title")
   end