diff --git a/models/project_issue.go b/models/project_issue.go
index a3179507dc9..4e3bc0039d2 100644
--- a/models/project_issue.go
+++ b/models/project_issue.go
@@ -121,7 +121,9 @@ func (p *Project) NumClosedIssues() int {
 func (p *Project) NumOpenIssues() int {
 	c, err := db.GetEngine(db.DefaultContext).Table("project_issue").
 		Join("INNER", "issue", "project_issue.issue_id=issue.id").
-		Where("project_issue.project_id=? AND issue.is_closed=?", p.ID, false).Count("issue.id")
+		Where("project_issue.project_id=? AND issue.is_closed=?", p.ID, false).
+		Cols("issue_id").
+		Count()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0
 	}