diff --git a/src/main/scala/app/RepositorySettingsController.scala b/src/main/scala/app/RepositorySettingsController.scala
index 780a7f3..14c4f91 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/app/RepositorySettingsController.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/app/RepositorySettingsController.scala
@@ -45,7 +45,15 @@
    * Save the repository options.
    */
   post("/:owner/:repository/settings/options", optionsForm)(ownerOnly { (form, repository) =>
-    saveRepositoryOptions(repository.owner, repository.name, form.description, form.defaultBranch, form.isPrivate)
+    saveRepositoryOptions(
+      repository.owner,
+      repository.name,
+      form.description,
+      form.defaultBranch,
+      repository.repository.parentUserName.map { _ =>
+        repository.repository.isPrivate
+      } getOrElse form.isPrivate
+    )
     flash += "info" -> "Repository settings has been updated."
     redirect(s"/${repository.owner}/${repository.name}/settings/options")
   })
diff --git a/src/main/twirl/settings/options.scala.html b/src/main/twirl/settings/options.scala.html
index 8967864..59708ce 100644
--- a/src/main/twirl/settings/options.scala.html
+++ b/src/main/twirl/settings/options.scala.html
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@
           <hr>
           <fieldset class="margin">
             <label>
-              <input type="radio" name="isPrivate" value="false"@if(!repository.repository.isPrivate){ checked}>
+              <input type="radio" name="isPrivate" value="false"
+                @if(!repository.repository.isPrivate              ){ checked  }
+                @if(repository.repository.parentUserName.isDefined){ disabled }
+              >
               <strong>Public</strong><br>
               <div>
                 <span class="note">All users and guests can read this repository.</span>
@@ -34,7 +37,10 @@
           </fieldset>
           <fieldset>
             <label>
-              <input type="radio" name="isPrivate" value="true"@if(repository.repository.isPrivate){ checked}>
+              <input type="radio" name="isPrivate" value="true"
+                @if(repository.repository.isPrivate               ){ checked  }
+                @if(repository.repository.parentUserName.isDefined){ disabled }
+              >
               <strong>Private</strong><br>
               <div>
                 <span class="note">Only collaborators can read this repository.</span>