diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/master-issue.js b/lib/workers/repository/master-issue.js
index 3c3c8ac59b5cd4a2206b5837940ab35ae6818ab3..bd9a6895efbde6a68baa0218bd4de0dc636d1779 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/master-issue.js
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/master-issue.js
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ function getListItem(branch, type, pr) {
 
 // istanbul ignore next
 async function ensureMasterIssue(config, branches) {
-  if (!(config.masterIssue || config.masterIssueApproval)) {
+  if (
+    !(config.masterIssue || branches.some(branch => branch.masterIssueApproval))
+  ) {
     return;
   }
   logger.info('Ensuring master issue');