diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py b/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/helpers.py
@@ -1543,11 +1543,14 @@ def process_patterns(text_string, repo_n
         log.debug('issue tracker entry: uid: `%s` PAT:%s URL:%s PREFIX:%s',
                   uid, entry['pat'], entry['url'], entry['pref'])
 
-        try:
-            pattern = re.compile(r'%s' % entry['pat'])
-        except re.error:
-            log.exception('issue tracker pattern: `%s` failed to compile', entry['pat'])
-            continue
+        if entry.get('pat_compiled'):
+            pattern = entry['pat_compiled']
+        else:
+            try:
+                pattern = re.compile(r'%s' % entry['pat'])
+            except re.error:
+                log.exception('issue tracker pattern: `%s` failed to compile', entry['pat'])
+                continue
 
         data_func = partial(
             _process_url_func, repo_name=repo_name, entry=entry, uid=uid,
diff --git a/rhodecode/model/settings.py b/rhodecode/model/settings.py
--- a/rhodecode/model/settings.py
+++ b/rhodecode/model/settings.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import os
 import hashlib
 import logging
+import re
 from collections import namedtuple
 from functools import wraps
 import bleach
@@ -372,9 +373,15 @@ class IssueTrackerSettingsModel(object):
         for uid in issuetracker_entries:
             url_data = qs.get(self._get_keyname('url', uid, 'rhodecode_'))
 
+            pat = qs.get(self._get_keyname('pat', uid, 'rhodecode_'))
+            try:
+                pat_compiled = re.compile(r'%s' % pat)
+            except re.error:
+                pat_compiled = None
+
             issuetracker_entries[uid] = AttributeDict({
-                'pat': qs.get(
-                    self._get_keyname('pat', uid, 'rhodecode_')),
+                'pat': pat,
+                'pat_compiled': pat_compiled,
                 'url': url_cleaner(
                     qs.get(self._get_keyname('url', uid, 'rhodecode_')) or ''),
                 'pref': bleach.clean(
diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/models/settings/test_issue_tracker.py b/rhodecode/tests/models/settings/test_issue_tracker.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/models/settings/test_issue_tracker.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/models/settings/test_issue_tracker.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ class TestIssueTrackerSettingsModel(obje
             settings_mock.return_value = input_settings
             result = model.get_global_settings(cache=True)
         get_settings.assert_called_once_with(cache=True)
+        for k, v in result.items():
+            v.pop('pat_compiled', None)
+
         assert expected_result == result
 
     def test_get_repo_settings_raise_exception_when_repo_is_not_set(self):
@@ -68,6 +71,8 @@ class TestIssueTrackerSettingsModel(obje
             settings_mock.return_value = input_settings
             result = model.get_repo_settings(cache=True)
         get_settings.assert_called_once_with(cache=True)
+        for k, v in result.items():
+            v.pop('pat_compiled', None)
         assert expected_result == result
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("inherit_settings, method", [