diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/gitea/index.ts b/lib/modules/platform/gitea/index.ts
index 7bf3d624a7ea0f..de33ac3623a889 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/gitea/index.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/gitea/index.ts
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ const platform: Platform = {
     config.prList = null;
     config.issueList = null;
     config.labelList = null;
-    config.hasIssuesEnabled = repo.has_issues;
+    config.hasIssuesEnabled = !repo.external_tracker && repo.has_issues;
 
     return {
       defaultBranch: config.defaultBranch,
diff --git a/lib/modules/platform/gitea/types.ts b/lib/modules/platform/gitea/types.ts
index d6061357a28324..939495f998614e 100644
--- a/lib/modules/platform/gitea/types.ts
+++ b/lib/modules/platform/gitea/types.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ export interface Repo {
   allow_squash_merge: boolean;
   archived: boolean;
   clone_url?: string;
+  external_tracker?: unknown;
   has_issues: boolean;
   ssh_url?: string;
   default_branch: string;