diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 27f60c7de068bb950c4ffd4ccac3730d9c7be659..ef5b4aa79cd8eb87839aae38ad4e9100d460ba60 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ v 8.9.0 (unreleased)
   - Cache assigned issue and merge request counts in sidebar nav
   - Cache project build count in sidebar nav
 
+v 8.8.4
+  - Fix todos page throwing errors when you have a project pending deletion
+
 v 8.8.3
   - Fix 404 page when viewing TODOs that contain milestones or labels in different projects. !4312
   - Fixed JS error when trying to remove discussion form. !4303
diff --git a/spec/features/todos/target_state_spec.rb b/spec/features/todos/target_state_spec.rb
index 72491ac7e61f2bbb51b71d60cd3fdb0ed49bac3b..32fa88a2b21cbdae47a004d0889439ed29c0b66c 100644
--- a/spec/features/todos/target_state_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/features/todos/target_state_spec.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ require 'rails_helper'
 feature 'Todo target states', feature: true do
   let(:user)    { create(:user) }
   let(:author)  { create(:user) }
-  let(:project) { create(:project) }
+  let(:project) { create(:project, visibility_level: Gitlab::VisibilityLevel::PUBLIC) }
 
   before do
     login_as user