diff --git a/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-build.tester.js b/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-build.tester.js
index 399787c40e..d115faea07 100644
--- a/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-build.tester.js
+++ b/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-build.tester.js
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ t.create('named branch')
     message: isBuildStatus,
   })
 
+t.create('never built definition')
+  .get('/swellaby/opensource/112.json')
+  .expectBadge({ label: 'build', message: 'never built' })
+
 t.create('unknown definition')
   .get('/larsbrinkhoff/953a34b9-5966-4923-a48a-c41874cfb5f5/515.json')
   .expectBadge({ label: 'build', message: 'definition not found' })
diff --git a/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-helpers.js b/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-helpers.js
index a05dabcdfb..6263287966 100644
--- a/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-helpers.js
+++ b/services/azure-devops/azure-devops-helpers.js
@@ -7,7 +7,12 @@ const keywords = ['vso', 'vsts', 'azure-devops']
 
 const schema = Joi.object({
   message: Joi.alternatives()
-    .try(isBuildStatus, Joi.equal('unknown'), Joi.equal('set up now'))
+    .try(
+      isBuildStatus,
+      Joi.equal('unknown'),
+      Joi.equal('set up now'),
+      Joi.equal('never built')
+    )
     .required(),
 }).required()