diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/approval/ApprovalInference.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/approval/ApprovalInference.java
index 0185598..4635464 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/approval/ApprovalInference.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/approval/ApprovalInference.java
@@ -129,18 +129,7 @@
     int n = psa.key().patchSetId().get();
     checkArgument(n != psId.get());
 
-    if (type == null) {
-      logger.atFine().log(
-          "approval %d on label %s of patch set %d of change %d cannot be copied"
-              + " to patch set %d because the label no longer exists on project %s",
-          psa.value(),
-          psa.label(),
-          n,
-          psa.key().patchSetId().changeId().get(),
-          psId.get(),
-          project.getName());
-      return false;
-    } else if (type.isCopyMinScore() && type.isMaxNegative(psa)) {
+    if (type.isCopyMinScore() && type.isMaxNegative(psa)) {
       logger.atFine().log(
           "veto approval %s on label %s of patch set %d of change %d can be copied"
               + " to patch set %d because the label has set copyMinScore = true on project %s",
@@ -414,6 +403,18 @@
       if (patchList == null && type != null && type.isCopyAllScoresIfListOfFilesDidNotChange()) {
         patchList = getPatchList(project, ps, priorPatchSet);
       }
+      if (type == null) {
+        logger.atFine().log(
+            "approval %d on label %s of patch set %d of change %d cannot be copied"
+                + " to patch set %d because the label no longer exists on project %s",
+            psa.value(),
+            psa.label(),
+            psa.key().patchSetId().get(),
+            psa.key().patchSetId().changeId().get(),
+            psId.get(),
+            project.getName());
+        continue;
+      }
       if (!canCopyBasedOnBooleanLabelConfigs(project, psa, ps.id(), kind, type, patchList)
           && !canCopyBasedOnCopyCondition(notes, psa, ps.id(), type, kind)) {
         continue;
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/DeleteLabelIT.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/DeleteLabelIT.java
index c2db9f1..491a0d5 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/DeleteLabelIT.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/DeleteLabelIT.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import static com.google.common.truth.Truth.assertThat;
 import static com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.allow;
+import static com.google.gerrit.extensions.client.ListChangesOption.DETAILED_LABELS;
 import static com.google.gerrit.server.group.SystemGroupBackend.REGISTERED_USERS;
 import static com.google.gerrit.testing.GerritJUnit.assertThrows;
 
@@ -109,4 +110,16 @@
             projectOperations.project(allProjects).getHead(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG).getShortMessage())
         .isEqualTo("Delete Code-Review label");
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void deletedLabelDoesNotThrowExceptions_approvalInference() throws Exception {
+    String changeId = createChange().getChangeId();
+    approve(changeId);
+    gApi.projects().name(allProjects.get()).label(LabelId.CODE_REVIEW).delete();
+
+    amendChange(changeId);
+
+    // Assert no throws.
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).get(DETAILED_LABELS);
+  }
 }