diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index f367f4616fb..9181db40eb4 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
     username
   end
 
-  def to_reference(_from_project = nil)
+  def to_reference(_from_project = nil, _target_project = nil)
     "#{self.class.reference_prefix}#{username}"
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/services/issues/move_service_spec.rb b/spec/services/issues/move_service_spec.rb
index 93bf0f64963..34ec13c43c6 100644
--- a/spec/services/issues/move_service_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/issues/move_service_spec.rb
@@ -207,10 +207,10 @@ describe Issues::MoveService, services: true do
         end
       end
 
-      describe 'rewritting references' do
+      describe 'rewriting references' do
         include_context 'issue move executed'
 
-        context 'issue reference' do
+        context 'issue references' do
           let(:another_issue) { create(:issue, project: old_project) }
           let(:description) { "Some description #{another_issue.to_reference}" }
 
@@ -219,6 +219,16 @@ describe Issues::MoveService, services: true do
               .to eq "Some description #{old_project.to_reference}#{another_issue.to_reference}"
           end
         end
+
+        context "user references" do
+          let(:another_issue) { create(:issue, project: old_project) }
+          let(:description) { "Some description #{user.to_reference}" }
+
+          it "doesn't throw any errors for issues containing user references" do
+            expect(new_issue.description)
+              .to eq "Some description #{user.to_reference}"
+          end
+        end
       end
 
       context 'moving to same project' do