diff --git a/routers/web/repo/setting/setting.go b/routers/web/repo/setting/setting.go
index 0865d9d7c0f59..4400c2b1b4b29 100644
--- a/routers/web/repo/setting/setting.go
+++ b/routers/web/repo/setting/setting.go
@@ -208,11 +208,14 @@ func handleSettingsPostUpdate(ctx *context.Context) {
 	repo.IsTemplate = form.Template
 
 	// Visibility of forked repository is forced sync with base repository.
+	visibilityChanged := false
 	if repo.IsFork {
-		form.Private = repo.BaseRepo.IsPrivate || repo.BaseRepo.Owner.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate
+		preVisibility := repo.IsPrivate
+		repo.IsPrivate = repo.BaseRepo.IsPrivate || repo.BaseRepo.Owner.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate
+		visibilityChanged = preVisibility != repo.IsPrivate
 	}
 
-	if err := repo_service.UpdateRepository(ctx, repo, false); err != nil {
+	if err := repo_service.UpdateRepository(ctx, repo, visibilityChanged); err != nil {
 		ctx.ServerError("UpdateRepository", err)
 		return
 	}