diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/__snapshots__/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts.snap b/lib/workers/repository/__snapshots__/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..41a7139fd43448
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/__snapshots__/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
+
+exports[`workers/repository/master-issue ensureMasterIssue() open or update Dependency Dashboard when all branches are closed and dependencyDashboardAutoclose is false 1`] = `
+"This issue contains a list of Renovate updates and their statuses.
+
+This repository currently has no open or pending branches.
+
+---
+And this is a footer
+"
+`;
diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts b/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts
index 909d5ad9d5c1c2..0b863cb8f8a6dc 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.spec.ts
@@ -119,15 +119,14 @@ describe('workers/repository/master-issue', () => {
     it('open or update Dependency Dashboard when all branches are closed and dependencyDashboardAutoclose is false', async () => {
       const branches: BranchConfig[] = [];
       config.dependencyDashboard = true;
+      config.dependencyDashboardFooter = 'And this is a footer';
       await dependencyDashboard.ensureMasterIssue(config, branches);
       expect(platform.ensureIssueClosing).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       expect(platform.ensureIssue).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
       expect(platform.ensureIssue.mock.calls[0][0].title).toBe(
         config.dependencyDashboardTitle
       );
-      expect(platform.ensureIssue.mock.calls[0][0].body).toBe(
-        'This repository is up-to-date and has no outstanding updates open or pending.'
-      );
+      expect(platform.ensureIssue.mock.calls[0][0].body).toMatchSnapshot();
       expect(platform.getBranchPr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
       expect(platform.findPr).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
 
diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.ts b/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.ts
index c687327704ca2e..68783b26a4cf9b 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.ts
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/dependency-dashboard.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import is from '@sindresorhus/is';
 import { RenovateConfig } from '../../config';
 import { logger } from '../../logger';
 import { Pr, platform } from '../../platform';
@@ -40,34 +41,18 @@ export async function ensureMasterIssue(
     return;
   }
   logger.debug('Ensuring Dependency Dashboard');
-  if (
-    !branches.length ||
-    branches.every((branch) => branch.res === 'automerged')
-  ) {
-    if (config.dependencyDashboardAutoclose) {
-      logger.debug('Closing Dependency Dashboard');
-      if (config.dryRun) {
-        logger.info(
-          'DRY-RUN: Would close Dependency Dashboard ' +
-            config.dependencyDashboardTitle
-        );
-      } else {
-        await platform.ensureIssueClosing(config.dependencyDashboardTitle);
-      }
-      return;
-    }
+  const hasBranches =
+    is.nonEmptyArray(branches) &&
+    branches.some((branch) => branch.res !== 'automerged');
+  if (config.dependencyDashboardAutoclose && !hasBranches) {
     if (config.dryRun) {
       logger.info(
-        'DRY-RUN: Would ensure Dependency Dashboard ' +
+        'DRY-RUN: Would close Dependency Dashboard ' +
           config.dependencyDashboardTitle
       );
     } else {
-      await platform.ensureIssue({
-        title: config.dependencyDashboardTitle,
-        reuseTitle,
-        body:
-          'This repository is up-to-date and has no outstanding updates open or pending.',
-      });
+      logger.debug('Closing Dependency Dashboard');
+      await platform.ensureIssueClosing(config.dependencyDashboardTitle);
     }
     return;
   }
@@ -204,7 +189,11 @@ export async function ensureMasterIssue(
     issueBody += '\n';
   }
 
-  // istanbul ignore if
+  if (!hasBranches) {
+    issueBody +=
+      'This repository currently has no open or pending branches.\n\n';
+  }
+
   if (config.dependencyDashboardFooter?.length) {
     issueBody += `---\n${config.dependencyDashboardFooter}\n`;
   }