diff --git a/modules/git/repo_branch_nogogit.go b/modules/git/repo_branch_nogogit.go
index 95c371884199..26e20ba11668 100644
--- a/modules/git/repo_branch_nogogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/repo_branch_nogogit.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func (repo *Repository) IsReferenceExist(name string) bool {
 
 // IsBranchExist returns true if given branch exists in current repository.
 func (repo *Repository) IsBranchExist(name string) bool {
-	if name == "" {
+	if repo == nil || name == "" {
 		return false
 	}
 
diff --git a/modules/git/repo_tag_nogogit.go b/modules/git/repo_tag_nogogit.go
index 5d3aace52fdd..0bb0da21bf3b 100644
--- a/modules/git/repo_tag_nogogit.go
+++ b/modules/git/repo_tag_nogogit.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 
 // IsTagExist returns true if given tag exists in the repository.
 func (repo *Repository) IsTagExist(name string) bool {
-	if name == "" {
+	if repo == nil || name == "" {
 		return false
 	}