diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 8a37274c023..400414b1c26 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ v 8.10.0 (unreleased)
   - Fix MR-auto-close text added to description. !4836
   - Implement Subresource Integrity for CSS and JavaScript assets. This prevents malicious assets from loading in the case of a CDN compromise.
 
+v 8.9.1
+  - Fix GitLab project import issues related to notes and builds
+
 v 8.9.0
   - Fix builds API response not including commit data
   - Fix error when CI job variables key specified but not defined
diff --git a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
index ca5a685dd11..0c9a5e42eec 100644
--- a/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
+++ b/app/models/ci/pipeline.rb
@@ -170,6 +170,19 @@ module Ci
       builds.where.not(environment: nil).success.pluck(:environment).uniq
     end
 
+    # Manually set the notes for a Ci::Pipeline
+    # There is no ActiveRecord relation between Ci::Pipeline and notes
+    # as they are related to a commit sha. This method helps importing
+    # them using the +Gitlab::ImportExport::RelationFactory+ class.
+    def notes=(notes)
+      notes.each do |note|
+        note[:id] = nil
+        note[:commit_id] = sha
+        note[:noteable_id] = self['id']
+        note.save!
+      end
+    end
+
     def notes
       Note.for_commit_id(sha)
     end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/import_export/relation_factory.rb b/lib/gitlab/import_export/relation_factory.rb
index b872780f20a..92bf7e0a2fc 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/import_export/relation_factory.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/import_export/relation_factory.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ module Gitlab
 
       USER_REFERENCES = %w[author_id assignee_id updated_by_id user_id].freeze
 
+      BUILD_MODELS = %w[Ci::Build commit_status].freeze
+
       def self.create(*args)
         new(*args).create
       end
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ module Gitlab
       end
 
       def generate_imported_object
-        if @relation_sym == 'commit_status' # call #trace= method after assigning the other attributes
+        if BUILD_MODELS.include?(@relation_name) # call #trace= method after assigning the other attributes
           trace = @relation_hash.delete('trace')
           imported_object do |object|
             object.trace = trace
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project.json b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project.json
index 400d44ac162..403bd582ef3 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project.json
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project.json
@@ -4894,6 +4894,29 @@
       "started_at": null,
       "finished_at": null,
       "duration": null,
+      "notes": [
+        {
+          "id": 999,
+          "note": "Natus rerum qui dolorem dolorum voluptas.",
+          "noteable_type": "Commit",
+          "author_id": 1,
+          "created_at": "2016-03-22T15:19:59.469Z",
+          "updated_at": "2016-03-22T15:19:59.469Z",
+          "project_id": 5,
+          "attachment": {
+            "url": null
+          },
+          "line_code": null,
+          "commit_id": "be93687618e4b132087f430a4d8fc3a609c9b77c",
+          "noteable_id": 36,
+          "system": false,
+          "st_diff": null,
+          "updated_by_id": null,
+          "author": {
+            "name": "Administrator"
+          }
+        }
+      ],
       "statuses": [
         {
           "id": 71,
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
index 7a40a43f8ae..23036ab8108 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/import_export/project_tree_restorer_spec.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ describe Gitlab::ImportExport::ProjectTreeRestorer, services: true do
       it 'restores models based on JSON' do
         expect(restored_project_json).to be true
       end
+
+      it 'creates a valid pipeline note' do
+        restored_project_json
+
+        expect(Ci::Pipeline.first.notes).not_to be_empty
+      end
     end
   end
 end