diff --git a/app/models/project.rb b/app/models/project.rb
index fe1e0c598d2..f0d8c40bfea 100644
--- a/app/models/project.rb
+++ b/app/models/project.rb
@@ -2140,10 +2140,14 @@ class Project < ActiveRecord::Base
     check_access = -> do
       next false if empty_repo?
 
-      merge_request = source_of_merge_requests.opened
-                        .where(allow_collaboration: true)
-                        .find_by(source_branch: branch_name)
-      merge_request&.can_be_merged_by?(user)
+      merge_requests = source_of_merge_requests.opened
+                         .where(allow_collaboration: true)
+
+      if branch_name
+        merge_requests.find_by(source_branch: branch_name)&.can_be_merged_by?(user)
+      else
+        merge_requests.any? { |merge_request| merge_request.can_be_merged_by?(user) }
+      end
     end
 
     if RequestStore.active?
diff --git a/changelogs/unreleased/bvl-fix-maintainer-push-rejected.yml b/changelogs/unreleased/bvl-fix-maintainer-push-rejected.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..54154ad2449
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/unreleased/bvl-fix-maintainer-push-rejected.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+title: Fix bug where maintainer would not be allowed to push to forks with merge requests
+  that have `Allow maintainer edits` enabled.
+merge_request: 18968
+author:
+type: fixed
diff --git a/spec/models/project_spec.rb b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
index 926365e409a..585cf7aab44 100644
--- a/spec/models/project_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/project_spec.rb
@@ -3663,6 +3663,11 @@ describe Project do
           .to be_truthy
       end
 
+      it 'allows access when there are merge requests open but no branch name is given' do
+        expect(project.branch_allows_collaboration?(user, nil))
+          .to be_truthy
+      end
+
       it 'does not allow guest users access' do
         guest = create(:user)
         target_project.add_guest(guest)
diff --git a/spec/requests/git_http_spec.rb b/spec/requests/git_http_spec.rb
index 2514dab1714..92fcfb65269 100644
--- a/spec/requests/git_http_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/git_http_spec.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 require "spec_helper"
 
 describe 'Git HTTP requests' do
+  include ProjectForksHelper
   include TermsHelper
   include GitHttpHelpers
   include WorkhorseHelpers
@@ -305,6 +306,22 @@ describe 'Git HTTP requests' do
                 expect(response.body).to eq(change_access_error(:push_code))
               end
             end
+
+            context 'when merge requests are open that allow maintainer access' do
+              let(:canonical_project) { create(:project, :public, :repository) }
+              let(:project) { fork_project(canonical_project, nil, repository: true) }
+
+              before do
+                canonical_project.add_master(user)
+                create(:merge_request,
+                       source_project: project,
+                       target_project:  canonical_project,
+                       source_branch: 'fixes',
+                       allow_collaboration: true)
+              end
+
+              it_behaves_like 'pushes are allowed'
+            end
           end
         end