diff --git a/models/fixtures/project_board.yml b/models/fixtures/project_board.yml
index 1bbb81baa5..3293dea6ed 100644
--- a/models/fixtures/project_board.yml
+++ b/models/fixtures/project_board.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
   title: To Do
   creator_id: 2
   default: true
-  sorting: 0
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -13,7 +12,6 @@
   project_id: 1
   title: In Progress
   creator_id: 2
-  sorting: 1
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -22,7 +20,6 @@
   project_id: 1
   title: Done
   creator_id: 2
-  sorting: 2
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -31,7 +28,6 @@
   project_id: 4
   title: Done
   creator_id: 2
-  sorting: 0
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -50,7 +46,6 @@
   title: Backlog
   creator_id: 2
   default: true
-  sorting: 1
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -69,7 +64,6 @@
   title: Backlog
   creator_id: 2
   default: true
-  sorting: 0
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
 
@@ -79,6 +73,5 @@
   title: Uncategorized
   creator_id: 2
   default: true
-  sorting: 1
   created_unix: 1588117528
   updated_unix: 1588117528
diff --git a/models/issues/issue_project.go b/models/issues/issue_project.go
index a9b9286a47..3ae3358209 100644
--- a/models/issues/issue_project.go
+++ b/models/issues/issue_project.go
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ package issues
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"database/sql"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models/db"
 	project_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/project"
 	user_model "code.gitea.io/gitea/models/user"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/util"
 )
 
 // LoadProject load the project the issue was assigned to
@@ -132,22 +132,22 @@ func IssueAssignOrRemoveProject(ctx context.Context, issue *Issue, doer *user_mo
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		var maxSorting sql.NullInt64
-		if _, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).Select("Max(sorting)").Table("project_issue").
+		res := struct {
+			MaxSorting int64
+			IssueCount int64
+		}{}
+		if _, err := db.GetEngine(ctx).Select("max(sorting) as MaxSorting, count(*) as IssueCount").Table("project_issue").
 			Where("project_id=?", newProjectID).
 			And("project_board_id=?", newColumnID).
-			Get(&maxSorting); err != nil {
+			Get(&res); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		if maxSorting.Valid {
-			maxSorting.Int64++
-		}
-
+		newSorting := util.Iif(res.IssueCount > 0, res.MaxSorting+1, 0)
 		return db.Insert(ctx, &project_model.ProjectIssue{
 			IssueID:        issue.ID,
 			ProjectID:      newProjectID,
 			ProjectBoardID: newColumnID,
-			Sorting:        maxSorting.Int64,
+			Sorting:        newSorting,
 		})
 	})
 }