diff --git a/pagure/lib/notify.py b/pagure/lib/notify.py
index 05aa38b..0c47773 100644
--- a/pagure/lib/notify.py
+++ b/pagure/lib/notify.py
@@ -131,10 +131,10 @@ def _get_emails_for_issue(issue):
 
     # Add public notifications to lists/users set project-wide
     if issue.isa == 'issue' and not issue.private:
-        for notifs in issue.project.notifications.get('issues'):
+        for notifs in issue.project.notifications.get('issues', []):
             emails.add(notifs)
     elif issue.isa == 'pull-request':
-        for notifs in issue.project.notifications.get('requests'):
+        for notifs in issue.project.notifications.get('requests', []):
             emails.add(notifs)
 
     # Remove the person list in unwatch
diff --git a/tests/test_pagure_lib.py b/tests/test_pagure_lib.py
index f57522b..80b6860 100644
--- a/tests/test_pagure_lib.py
+++ b/tests/test_pagure_lib.py
@@ -933,6 +933,7 @@ class PagureLibtests(tests.Modeltests):
                 'Web-hooks': None,
                 'Enforce_signed-off_commits_in_pull-request': False,
                 'always_merge': False,
+                "issues_default_to_private": False,
             },
             user='pingou',
         )
diff --git a/tests/test_pagure_lib_git.py b/tests/test_pagure_lib_git.py
index 48122ee..27b39d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_pagure_lib_git.py
+++ b/tests/test_pagure_lib_git.py
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ new file mode 100644
 index 0000000..60f7480
 --- /dev/null
 +++ b/456
-@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
 +{
 +    "assignee": null,
 +    "branch": "master",
@@ -741,6 +741,7 @@ index 0000000..60f7480
 +            "Web-hooks": null,
 +            "always_merge": false,
 +            "issue_tracker": true,
++            "issues_default_to_private": false,
 +            "project_documentation": false,
 +            "pull_requests": true
 +        },
@@ -771,6 +772,7 @@ index 0000000..60f7480
 +            "Web-hooks": null,
 +            "always_merge": false,
 +            "issue_tracker": true,
++            "issues_default_to_private": false,
 +            "project_documentation": false,
 +            "pull_requests": true
 +        },