diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/issue.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/issue.go
index e47f95f37cf..938e13bc654 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/issue.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/issue.go
@@ -335,8 +335,8 @@ func ListIssues(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	keyword := ctx.FormTrim("q")
 
 	var labelIDs []int64
-	if splitted := strings.Split(ctx.FormString("labels"), ","); len(splitted) > 0 {
-		labelIDs, err = issues_model.GetLabelIDsInRepoByNames(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, splitted)
+	if labelsParam := ctx.FormTrim("labels"); labelsParam != "" {
+		labelIDs, err = issues_model.GetLabelIDsInRepoByNames(ctx, ctx.Repo.Repository.ID, strings.Split(labelsParam, ","))
 		if err != nil {
 			ctx.APIErrorInternal(err)
 			return