diff --git a/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py b/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
index 4a4f852..d067b7a 100644
--- a/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
+++ b/sync2jira/downstream_issue.py
@@ -978,6 +978,10 @@ def _update_github_project_fields(client, existing, issue,
 
     default_jira_fields = config['sync2jira'].get('default_jira_fields', {})
     for name, values in github_project_fields.items():
+        if name not in dir(issue):
+            log.error(f"Configuration error: github_project_field key, {name:r}, is not in issue object.")
+            continue
+
         fieldvalue = getattr(issue, name)
         if name == 'storypoints':
             try: