diff --git a/plugins/labhub.py b/plugins/labhub.py
index 7a284918..d4590685 100644
--- a/plugins/labhub.py
+++ b/plugins/labhub.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import github3
 from IGitt.GitHub.GitHub import GitHub, GitHubToken
 from IGitt.GitLab.GitLab import GitLab, GitLabPrivateToken
-from errbot import BotPlugin, re_botcmd
+from errbot import BotPlugin, arg_botcmd, re_botcmd
 
 from plugins import constants
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def callback_message(self, msg):
     @re_botcmd(pattern=r'(?:new|file) issue ([\w-]+?)(?: |\n)(.+?)(?:$|\n((?:.|\n)*))',  # Ignore LineLengthBear, PyCodeStyleBear
                re_cmd_name_help='new issue repo-name title\n[description]',
                flags=re.IGNORECASE)
-    def create_issut_cmd(self, msg, match):
+    def create_issue_cmd(self, msg, match):
         """Create issues on GitHub and GitLab repositories."""  # Ignore QuotesBear, LineLengthBear, PyCodeStyleBear
         repo_name = match.group(1)
         iss_title = match.group(2)
@@ -242,14 +242,65 @@ def mark_cmd(self, msg, match):
                             bot_prefix=self.bot_config.BOT_PREFIX)
                         )
 
-    @re_botcmd(pattern=r'^assign\s+https://(github|gitlab)\.com/([^/]+)/([^/]+/)+issues/(\d+)',  # Ignore LineLengthBear, PyCodeStyleBear
-               re_cmd_name_help='assign <complete-issue-URL>',
-               flags=re.IGNORECASE)
-    def assign_cmd(self, msg, match):
+    @arg_botcmd('issue_reference', type=str)
+    def assign(self, msg, issue_reference):
         """Assign to GitLab and GitHub issues."""  # Ignore QuotesBear
-        org = match.group(2)
-        repo_name = match.group(3)[:-1]
-        iss_number = match.group(4)
+
+        # Complete URL to issue
+        def process_full_url(issue_reference):
+            rgx = r'https://(github|gitlab)\.com/([^/]+)/([^/]+/)+issues/(\d+)'
+            m = re.fullmatch(rgx, issue_reference, re.IGNORECASE)
+
+            if m is None:
+                return None
+
+            return m.group(2), m.group(3)[:-1], m.group(4)
+
+        # Short issue reference (e.g. `coala/corobo#12`)
+        def process_short_ref(issue_reference):
+            rgx = r'(.+?)/(.+?)#(\d+)'
+            m = re.fullmatch(rgx, issue_reference, re.IGNORECASE)
+
+            if m is None:
+                return None
+
+            return m.group(1), m.group(2), m.group(3)
+
+        # Super short issue reference (e.g. `#1234`)
+        def process_super_short_ref(issue_reference):
+            issue_rgx = r'#(\d+)'
+            issue_reference_match = re.fullmatch(issue_rgx, issue_reference)
+
+            if issue_reference_match is None:
+                return None
+
+            roomname_rgx = r'(.+?)/(.+)'
+            roomname_match = re.fullmatch(
+                roomname_rgx, msg.to.name, re.IGNORECASE)
+
+            if roomname_match is None:
+                return None
+
+            return (roomname_match.group(1),
+                    roomname_match.group(2),
+                    issue_reference_match.group(1))
+
+        issue_processors = [
+            process_full_url,
+            process_short_ref,
+            process_super_short_ref
+        ]
+
+        for issue_processor in issue_processors:
+            issue_data = issue_processor(issue_reference)
+
+            if issue_data is not None:
+                break
+        else:
+            yield 'Invalid issue.'
+            return
+
+        org, repo_name, iss_number = issue_data
 
         user = msg.frm.nick
 
diff --git a/tests/labhub_test.py b/tests/labhub_test.py
index 272939ca..c50d31dd 100644
--- a/tests/labhub_test.py
+++ b/tests/labhub_test.py
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 import logging
-import os
 import queue
-import time
 import unittest
-from unittest.mock import Mock, MagicMock, create_autospec, PropertyMock, patch
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, create_autospec, PropertyMock, patch
 
 import github3
 import IGitt
@@ -13,10 +11,10 @@
 from errbot.backends.test import TestBot
 
 import plugins.labhub
-from plugins.labhub import LabHub
 
 from tests.helper import plugin_testbot
 
+
 class TestLabHub(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
@@ -148,6 +146,22 @@ def test_assign_cmd(self):
                         'coala developers': mock_dev_team,
                         'coala maintainers': mock_maint_team}
 
+        # invalid issue format
+        testbot.assertCommand('!assign this-is-an-invalid-issue-xyz',
+                              'Invalid issue.')
+
+        # test short issue reference
+        mock_issue.assignees = tuple()
+        self.mock_team.is_member.return_value = False
+        testbot.assertCommand('!assign coala/a#23',
+                              "You've been assigned to the issue")
+
+        # test super-short issue reference
+        mock_issue.assignees = tuple()
+        self.mock_team.is_member.return_value = False
+        testbot.assertCommand('!assign #23',
+                              "You've been assigned to the issue")
+
         cmd = '!assign https://github.com/{}/{}/issues/{}'
         # no assignee, not newcomer
         mock_issue.assignees = tuple()