diff --git a/ts/mod_git/index.ts b/ts/mod_git/index.ts
index eb5ce3f..3dc79a7 100644
--- a/ts/mod_git/index.ts
+++ b/ts/mod_git/index.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@ export let mirror = async () => {
   const githubToken = process.env.NPMCI_GIT_GITHUBTOKEN;
   const githubUser = process.env.NPMCI_GIT_GITHUBGROUP || repo.user;
   const githubRepo = process.env.NPMCI_GIT_GITHUB || repo.repo;
-  if(configObject.projectInfo.npm.packageJson.private === true) {
-    logger.log('warn', `refusing to mirror due to private property`);
+  if(
+    configObject.projectInfo.npm.packageJson.private === true ||
+    configObject.npmAccessLevel === 'private'
+  ) {
+    logger.log('warn', `refusing to mirror due to private property use a private mirror location instead`);
     return;
   }
   if (githubToken) {