diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
index 5af8db80..efb04e78 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
         # targets
         failed = self.browse(())
         for pr in self:
-            required = pr.repository.project_id.required_statuses.split(',')
+            required = filter(None, pr.repository.project_id.required_statuses.split(','))
 
             success = True
             for ci in required:
@@ -830,7 +830,6 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
                             'pull_request': pr.number,
                             'message': "%r failed on this reviewed PR." % ci,
                         })
-
             if success:
                 oldstate = pr.state
                 if oldstate == 'opened':
@@ -860,8 +859,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
     def create(self, vals):
         pr = super().create(vals)
         c = self.env['runbot_merge.commit'].search([('sha', '=', pr.head)])
-        if c and c.statuses:
-            pr._validate(json.loads(c.statuses))
+        pr._validate(json.loads(c.statuses or '{}'))
 
         if pr.state not in ('closed', 'merged'):
             self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests.tagging'].create({
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
index 4c9bf19d..6e327325 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -871,6 +871,24 @@ def test_reopen_state(env, repo):
     assert pr.state == 'validated', \
         "if a PR is reopened and had a CI'd head, it should be validated immediately"
 
+def test_no_required_statuses(env, repo):
+    """ check that mergebot can work on a repo with no CI at all
+    """
+    env['runbot_merge.project'].search([]).required_statuses = ''
+    m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'0': '0'})
+    repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
+
+    c = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'0': '1'})
+    prx = repo.make_pr('title', 'body', target='master', ctid=c, user='user')
+    prx.post_comment('hansen r+', 'reviewer')
+
+    run_crons(env)
+
+    assert env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
+        ('repository.name', '=', repo.name),
+        ('number', '=', prx.number)
+    ]).state == 'ready'
+
 class TestRetry:
     @pytest.mark.xfail(reason="This may not be a good idea as it could lead to tons of rebuild spam")
     def test_auto_retry_push(self, env, repo):