diff --git a/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/sales_order.py b/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/sales_order.py
index 1c3354c2122..5bacf28bb82 100644
--- a/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/sales_order.py
+++ b/erpnext/selling/doctype/sales_order/sales_order.py
@@ -567,10 +567,12 @@ def make_sales_invoice(source_name, target_doc=None, ignore_permissions=False):
 		target.base_amount = target.amount * flt(source_parent.conversion_rate)
 		target.qty = target.amount / flt(source.rate) if (source.rate and source.billed_amt) else source.qty
 
-		item = frappe.db.get_value("Item", target.item_code, ["item_group", "selling_cost_center"], as_dict=1)
-		target.cost_center = frappe.db.get_value("Project", source_parent.project, "cost_center") \
-			or item.selling_cost_center \
-			or frappe.db.get_value("Item Group", item.item_group, "default_cost_center")
+		if source_parent.project:
+			target.cost_center = frappe.db.get_value("Project", source_parent.project, "cost_center")
+		if not target.cost_center and target.item_code:
+			item = frappe.db.get_value("Item", target.item_code, ["item_group", "selling_cost_center"], as_dict=1)
+			target.cost_center = item.selling_cost_center \
+				or frappe.db.get_value("Item Group", item.item_group, "default_cost_center")
 
 	doclist = get_mapped_doc("Sales Order", source_name, {
 		"Sales Order": {