diff --git a/pagure/api/__init__.py b/pagure/api/__init__.py
index 4559b83..c05c644 100644
--- a/pagure/api/__init__.py
+++ b/pagure/api/__init__.py
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ class APIERROR(enum.Enum):
     EINVALIDISSUEFIELD = 'Invalid custom field submitted'
     EINVALIDISSUEFIELD_LINK = 'Invalid custom field submitted, the value '\
         'is not a link'
+    EINVALIDPRIORITY = 'Invalid priority submitted'
 
 
 def check_api_acls(acls, optional=False):
diff --git a/pagure/api/issue.py b/pagure/api/issue.py
index 474bbb7..10fc006 100644
--- a/pagure/api/issue.py
+++ b/pagure/api/issue.py
@@ -314,6 +314,23 @@ def api_view_issues(repo, username=None, namespace=None):
     tags = flask.request.args.getlist('tags')
     tags = [tag.strip() for tag in tags if tag.strip()]
 
+    priority_key = None
+    if priority:
+        found = False
+        if priority in repo.priorities:
+            found = True
+            priority_key = int(priority)
+        else:
+            for key, val in repo.priorities.items():
+                if val.lower() == priority.lower():
+                    priority_key = key
+                    found = True
+                    break
+
+        if not found:
+            raise pagure.exceptions.APIError(
+                400, error_code=APIERROR.EINVALIDPRIORITY)
+
     # Hide private tickets
     private = False
     # If user is authenticated, show him/her his/her private tickets
@@ -334,7 +351,7 @@ def api_view_issues(repo, username=None, namespace=None):
         'author': author,
         'private': private,
         'milestones': milestone,
-        'priority': priority,
+        'priority': priority_key,
         'no_milestones': no_stones,
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_issue.py b/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_issue.py
index 5902a0c..f4a5d69 100644
--- a/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_issue.py
+++ b/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_issue.py
@@ -1216,6 +1216,11 @@ class PagureFlaskApiIssuetests(tests.Modeltests):
         self.session.add(issue)
         self.session.commit()
 
+        # Set some priorities to the project
+        repo.priorities = {'1': 'High', '2': 'Normal'}
+        self.session.add(repo)
+        self.session.commit()
+
         # List all opened issues
         output = self.app.get('/api/0/test/issues')
         self.assertEqual(output.status_code, 200)
@@ -1224,7 +1229,7 @@ class PagureFlaskApiIssuetests(tests.Modeltests):
             data['issues'][idx]['date_created'] = '1431414800'
             data['issues'][idx]['last_updated'] = '1431414800'
         lcl_issues = copy.deepcopy(LCL_ISSUES)
-        lcl_issues[0]['priority'] = 'high'
+        lcl_issues[0]['priority'] = 1
         self.assertDictEqual(
             data,
             {
@@ -1243,8 +1248,8 @@ class PagureFlaskApiIssuetests(tests.Modeltests):
             }
         )
 
-        # List all issues of the milestone v1.0
-        output = self.app.get('/api/0/test/issues?priority=1')
+        # List all issues of the priority high (ie: 1)
+        output = self.app.get('/api/0/test/issues?priority=high')
         self.assertEqual(output.status_code, 200)
         data = json.loads(output.data)
         for idx in range(len(data['issues'])):
@@ -1268,6 +1273,42 @@ class PagureFlaskApiIssuetests(tests.Modeltests):
             }
         )
 
+        output = self.app.get('/api/0/test/issues?priority=1')
+        self.assertEqual(output.status_code, 200)
+        data = json.loads(output.data)
+        for idx in range(len(data['issues'])):
+            data['issues'][idx]['date_created'] = '1431414800'
+            data['issues'][idx]['last_updated'] = '1431414800'
+        self.assertDictEqual(
+            data,
+            {
+              "args": {
+                "assignee": None,
+                "author": None,
+                'milestones': [],
+                'no_stones': None,
+                'priority': '1',
+                "since": None,
+                "status": None,
+                "tags": [],
+              },
+              "issues": [lcl_issues[0]],
+              "total_issues": 1
+            }
+        )
+
+        # Try getting issues with an invalid priority
+        output = self.app.get('/api/0/test/issues?priority=foobar')
+        self.assertEqual(output.status_code, 400)
+        data = json.loads(output.data)
+        self.assertDictEqual(
+            data,
+            {
+              "error": "Invalid priority submitted",
+              "error_code": "EINVALIDPRIORITY"
+            }
+        )
+
     def test_api_view_issues_no_stones(self):
         """ Test the api_view_issues method of the flask api when filtering
         with no_stones.