diff --git a/api/queries_issue.go b/api/queries_issue.go
index 91702b913..9c441c02d 100644
--- a/api/queries_issue.go
+++ b/api/queries_issue.go
@@ -265,6 +265,10 @@ func IssueList(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, state string, labels []str
 				break
 			}
 		}
+
+		if variables["milestone"] == nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("no milestone found with title: %q", milestoneString)
+		}
 	}
 
 	var response struct {