diff --git a/aider_gitea/__main__.py b/aider_gitea/__main__.py
index 1c95db2..ce918fd 100644
--- a/aider_gitea/__main__.py
+++ b/aider_gitea/__main__.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import re
 
 from . import secrets
 
-def generate_branch_name(issue_title: str) -> str:
+def generate_branch_name(issue_number: str, issue_title: str) -> str:
     """
     Create a branch name by sanitizing the issue title.
     Non-alphanumeric characters (except spaces) are removed,
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def main():
         issue_number = issue.get("number")
         issue_description = issue.get("body", "")
         title = issue.get("title", f"Issue {issue_number}")
-        branch_name = generate_branch_name(title)
+        branch_name = generate_branch_name(issue_number, title)
         try:
             with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdirname:
                 process_issue(args, Path(tmpdirname), branch_name, title, issue_description, issue_number)
diff --git a/test/test_generate_branch_name.py b/test/test_generate_branch_name.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2473f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_generate_branch_name.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import pytest
+from aider_gitea.__main__ import generate_branch_name
+
+def test_generate_branch_name_normal():
+    # Normal case with alphanumeric title.
+    branch = generate_branch_name("123", "Some Issue Title")
+    assert branch == "issue-123-some-issue-title"
+
+def test_generate_branch_name_special_characters():
+    # Test where title contains special characters.
+    branch = generate_branch_name("45", "Issue @ Special!")
+    # This test expects only the space replaced and lower-casing.
+    # Adjust the expected value if more sophisticated slugification is added.
+    assert branch == "issue-45-issue-@-special!"
+
+def test_generate_branch_name_numeric_title():
+    # Test where the title starts with numbers.
+    branch = generate_branch_name("789", "123 Numbers Here")
+    assert branch == "issue-789-123-numbers-here"