diff --git a/R/build-home-index.R b/R/build-home-index.R
index 70f2764bd..228dc7666 100644
--- a/R/build-home-index.R
+++ b/R/build-home-index.R
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ data_home_sidebar_links <- function(pkg = ".") {
   links <- config_pluck(pkg, "home.links")
 
   bug_reports <- pkg$desc$get_field("BugReports", default = NULL)
-  if (grepl("@", bug_reports) && !startsWith(bug_reports, "http")) {
+  if (!is.null(bug_reports) && grepl("@", bug_reports) && !startsWith(bug_reports, "http")) {
     bug_reports <- paste0("mailto:", bug_reports)
   }