diff --git a/api/convert.go b/api/convert.go
index 95a83eb..53c3df4 100644
--- a/api/convert.go
+++ b/api/convert.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func timePtrIfNotNil(t *time.Time) *github.Timestamp {
 
 func convertUser(user *structs.User) *github.User {
 	if user == nil {
-		return nil
+		return &github.User{}
 	}
 	return &github.User{
 		Login: stringPtr(user.UserName),
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func convertUsers(users []*structs.User) []*github.User {
 
 func convertMilestone(milestone *structs.Milestone) *github.Milestone {
 	if milestone == nil {
-		return nil
+		return &github.Milestone{}
 	}
 	return &github.Milestone{
 		Title: stringPtr(milestone.Title),
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ func convertMilestone(milestone *structs.Milestone) *github.Milestone {
 }
 
 func convertLabels(labels []*structs.Label) []*github.Label {
+	if labels == nil {
+		return make([]*github.Label, 0)
+	}
 	var ghLabels []*github.Label
 	for _, label := range labels {
 		ghLabels = append(ghLabels, &github.Label{
@@ -76,6 +79,9 @@ func convertLabels(labels []*structs.Label) []*github.Label {
 }
 
 func convertPRBranch(branch *structs.PRBranchInfo) *github.PullRequestBranch {
+	if branch == nil {
+		return &github.PullRequestBranch{}
+	}
 	return &github.PullRequestBranch{
 		Label: stringPtr(branch.Name),
 		Ref:   stringPtr(branch.Ref),
@@ -85,6 +91,9 @@ func convertPRBranch(branch *structs.PRBranchInfo) *github.PullRequestBranch {
 }
 
 func convertRepo(repo *structs.Repository) *github.Repository {
+	if repo == nil {
+		return &github.Repository{}
+	}
 	return &github.Repository{
 		ID:               int64Ptr(repo.ID),
 		Name:             stringPtr(repo.Name),
@@ -112,6 +121,9 @@ func convertRepo(repo *structs.Repository) *github.Repository {
 }
 
 func convertPullRequest(request *structs.PullRequest) *github.PullRequest {
+	if request == nil {
+		return &github.PullRequest{}
+	}
 	pr := &github.PullRequest{
 		ID:             int64Ptr(request.ID),
 		Number:         intPtr(int(request.Index)),
@@ -149,7 +161,7 @@ func convertPullRequest(request *structs.PullRequest) *github.PullRequest {
 
 func convertChanges(changes *structs.ChangesPayload) *github.EditChange {
 	if changes == nil {
-		return nil
+		return &github.EditChange{}
 	}
 	return &github.EditChange{
 		Title: &github.EditTitle{