diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
index dbc5e4d478..9be7c7a178 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/repo.go
@@ -1159,11 +1159,7 @@ func GetIssueTemplates(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/IssueTemplates"
 	//   "404":
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/notFound"
-	ret, err := issue.GetTemplatesFromDefaultBranch(ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo)
-	if err != nil {
-		ctx.Error(http.StatusInternalServerError, "GetTemplatesFromDefaultBranch", err)
-		return
-	}
+	ret, _ := issue.GetTemplatesFromDefaultBranch(ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.GitRepo)
 	ctx.JSON(http.StatusOK, ret)
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/api_issue_templates_test.go b/tests/integration/api_issue_templates_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0d3ddb21bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/api_issue_templates_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+// Copyright 2024 The Forgejo Authors c/o Codeberg e.V.. All rights reserved.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+package integration
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+	"testing"
+
+	repo_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/repo"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/unittest"
+	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
+	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/tests"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestAPIIssueTemplateList(t *testing.T) {
+	onGiteaRun(t, func(t *testing.T, u *url.URL) {
+		repo := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &repo_model.Repository{ID: 1})
+		user := unittest.AssertExistsAndLoadBean(t, &user_model.User{ID: repo.OwnerID})
+
+		t.Run("no templates", func(t *testing.T) {
+			defer tests.PrintCurrentTest(t)()
+
+			req := NewRequest(t, "GET", fmt.Sprintf("/api/v1/repos/%s/issue_templates", repo.FullName()))
+			resp := MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusOK)
+			var issueTemplates []*api.IssueTemplate
+			DecodeJSON(t, resp, &issueTemplates)
+			assert.Empty(t, issueTemplates)
+		})
+
+		t.Run("existing template", func(t *testing.T) {
+			defer tests.PrintCurrentTest(t)()
+			defer func() {
+				deleteFileInBranch(user, repo, "ISSUE_TEMPLATE/test.md", repo.DefaultBranch)
+			}()
+
+			err := createOrReplaceFileInBranch(user, repo, "ISSUE_TEMPLATE/test.md", repo.DefaultBranch,
+				`---
+name: 'Template Name'
+about: 'This template is for testing!'
+title: '[TEST] '
+ref: 'main'
+---
+
+This is the template!`)
+			assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+			req := NewRequest(t, "GET", fmt.Sprintf("/api/v1/repos/%s/issue_templates", repo.FullName()))
+			resp := MakeRequest(t, req, http.StatusOK)
+			var issueTemplates []*api.IssueTemplate
+			DecodeJSON(t, resp, &issueTemplates)
+			assert.Len(t, issueTemplates, 1)
+			assert.Equal(t, "Template Name", issueTemplates[0].Name)
+			assert.Equal(t, "This template is for testing!", issueTemplates[0].About)
+			assert.Equal(t, "refs/heads/main", issueTemplates[0].Ref)
+			assert.Equal(t, "ISSUE_TEMPLATE/test.md", issueTemplates[0].FileName)
+		})
+	})
+}