diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index 562198e2369..60cd13b371f 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -675,6 +675,12 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
     end
   end
 
+  def human_import_status_name
+    ensure_import_state
+
+    import_state.human_status_name
+  end
+
   def import_schedule
     ensure_import_state(force: true)
 
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/47208-human-import-status-name-not-working.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/47208-human-import-status-name-not-working.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e1f603f988e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/47208-human-import-status-name-not-working.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+title: Showing project import_status in a humanized form no longer gives an error
+merge_request: 19470
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/spec/models/project_spec.rb b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
index fe9d64c0e3b..52fc7423c26 100644
--- a/spec/models/project_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
@@ -1693,6 +1693,31 @@ describe Project do
     end
   end
 
+  describe '#human_import_status_name' do
+    context 'when import_state exists' do
+      it 'returns the humanized status name' do
+        project = create(:project)
+        create(:import_state, :started, project: project)
+
+        expect(project.human_import_status_name).to eq("started")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when import_state was not created yet' do
+      let(:project) { create(:project, :import_started) }
+
+      it 'ensures import_state is created and returns humanized status name' do
+        expect do
+          project.human_import_status_name
+        end.to change { ProjectImportState.count }.from(0).to(1)
+      end
+
+      it 'returns humanized status name' do
+        expect(project.human_import_status_name).to eq("started")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe 'Project import job' do
     let(:project) { create(:project, import_url: generate(:url)) }