ER: Blank PRs get commented on for formatting issues too #8871

Emergent Requirement - Problem

We should make sure that check-linked-issue.js can handle blank PRs as well. That code currently helps to check PRs for proper formatting to make sure an issue is linked, but it fails if the PR it is checking is blank.

Issue you discovered this emergent requirement in

• Update and refactor pr trigger permissions #8815

Date discovered

10-24-2026

Did you have to do something temporarily

• YES
• NO

Who was involved

@castillios
@daras-cu

What happens if this is not addressed

If a blank PR get published, the PR to check for a a properly linked issue does not leave any comment on the PR to notify the author of an issue.

Resources

• This comment outlines what that failure looks like and has links to the errors that come up: Update and refactor pr trigger permissions #8815 (comment)
• For testing Github Actions, refer to The "Hack for LA's GitHub Actions" Wiki guide needs additional explanation #6537 (comment), especially Tips 6, 7, and 8, if you have not already created you personal environment for testing.
• More notes on testing Gtihub Actions: How to Test GitHub Actions
• Additional Notes for GitHub Actions

Recommended Action Items

• Make a new issue
• Discuss with team
• Let a Team Lead know

Potential solutions [draft]

Issue:

• Complexity: Small (While the suggested change here only requires changing one line of code, I gave it the Complexity: Small label because it requires testing GitHub Actions.)
• Relationships: None
• Size: 0.25pt
• Fix:
  in ~/github-actions/trigger-pr/check-linked-issue.js (line 105), change:

const match = pr.body.match(regex); 

... to:

const match = (pr.body ?? '').match(regex);