diff --git a/api/queries_pr.go b/api/queries_pr.go
index 04fad1d9b..a8d926b85 100644
--- a/api/queries_pr.go
+++ b/api/queries_pr.go
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ func PullRequestForBranch(client *Client, ghRepo Repo, branch string) (*PullRequ
 		}
 	}
 
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("no open pull requests found for branch %q", branch)
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
 func CreatePullRequest(client *Client, ghRepo Repo, params map[string]interface{}) (*PullRequest, error) {
diff --git a/command/pr.go b/command/pr.go
index 790e27fef..97b8876c9 100644
--- a/command/pr.go
+++ b/command/pr.go
@@ -271,6 +271,14 @@ func prView(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+
+			if pr == nil {
+				branch, err := ctx.Branch()
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return fmt.Errorf("no open pull requests found for branch %q. To open a specific PR use a PR number as an argument", branch)
+			}
 			openURL = pr.URL
 		}
 	}