diff --git a/pillar/application/modules/projects.py b/pillar/application/modules/projects.py
index c943d944..c66bdd20 100644
--- a/pillar/application/modules/projects.py
+++ b/pillar/application/modules/projects.py
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ def override_is_private_field(project, original):
         return
 
     world_perms = project['permissions'].get('world', [])
-    project['is_private'] = 'GET' not in world_perms
+    is_private = 'GET' not in world_perms
+    project['is_private'] = is_private
 
 
 def before_inserting_override_is_private_field(projects):