diff --git a/github/issues.go b/github/issues.go
index f92df6b..1d51a3d 100644
--- a/github/issues.go
+++ b/github/issues.go
@@ -49,12 +49,12 @@ func (i Issue) String() string {
 // It is separate from Issue above because otherwise Labels
 // and Assignee fail to serialize to the correct JSON.
 type IssueRequest struct {
-	Title     *string  `json:"title,omitempty"`
-	Body      *string  `json:"body,omitempty"`
-	Labels    []string `json:"labels,omitempty"`
-	Assignee  *string  `json:"assignee,omitempty"`
-	State     *string  `json:"state,omitempty"`
-	Milestone *int     `json:"milestone,omitempty"`
+	Title     *string   `json:"title,omitempty"`
+	Body      *string   `json:"body,omitempty"`
+	Labels    *[]string `json:"labels,omitempty"`
+	Assignee  *string   `json:"assignee,omitempty"`
+	State     *string   `json:"state,omitempty"`
+	Milestone *int      `json:"milestone,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // IssueListOptions specifies the optional parameters to the IssuesService.List