diff --git a/models/issue_xref.go b/models/issue_xref.go
index 3631bf3246..1cc0bcfe6a 100644
--- a/models/issue_xref.go
+++ b/models/issue_xref.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func (issue *Issue) isValidCommentReference(e Engine, ctx *crossReferencesContex
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	// Check user permissions
-	if refIssue.Repo.ID != ctx.OrigIssue.Repo.ID {
+	if refIssue.RepoID != ctx.OrigIssue.RepoID {
 		perm, err := getUserRepoPermission(e, refIssue.Repo, ctx.Doer)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err