diff --git a/pagure/api/project.py b/pagure/api/project.py
index ae37788..9c8fef0 100644
--- a/pagure/api/project.py
+++ b/pagure/api/project.py
@@ -361,6 +361,14 @@ def api_new_project():
     |                  |         |              |   added to the project on |
     |                  |         |              |   creation.               |
     +------------------+---------+--------------+---------------------------+
+    | ``private``      | boolean | Optional     | | A boolean to specify if |
+    |                  |         |              |   the project to create   |
+    |                  |         |              |   is private.             |
+    |                  |         |              |   Note: not all pagure    |
+    |                  |         |              |   instance support private|
+    |                  |         |              |   projects, confirm this  |
+    |                  |         |              |   with your administrators|
+    +------------------+---------+--------------+---------------------------+
 
     Sample response
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
@@ -396,12 +404,17 @@ def api_new_project():
         if namespace:
             namespace = namespace.strip()
 
+        private = False
+        if pagure.APP.config.get('PRIVATE_PROJECTS', False):
+            private = form.private.data
+
         try:
             message = pagure.lib.new_project(
                 SESSION,
                 name=name,
                 namespace=namespace,
                 description=description,
+                private=private,
                 url=url,
                 avatar_email=avatar_email,
                 user=flask.g.fas_user.username,
diff --git a/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_project.py b/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_project.py
index 70016f6..46e5b40 100644
--- a/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_project.py
+++ b/tests/test_pagure_flask_api_project.py
@@ -622,6 +622,36 @@ class PagureFlaskApiProjecttests(tests.Modeltests):
             {'message': 'Project "test_42" created'}
         )
 
+    @patch.dict('pagure.APP.config', {'PRIVATE_PROJECTS': True})
+    @patch('pagure.lib.git.generate_gitolite_acls')
+    def test_api_new_project_private(self, p_gga):
+        """ Test the api_new_project method of the flask api to create
+        a private project. """
+        p_gga.return_value = True
+
+        tests.create_projects(self.session)
+        tests.create_projects_git(os.path.join(self.path, 'tickets'))
+        tests.create_tokens(self.session)
+        tests.create_tokens_acl(self.session)
+
+        headers = {'Authorization': 'token aaabbbcccddd'}
+
+        data = {
+            'name': 'test',
+            'description': 'Just a small test project',
+            'private': True,
+        }
+
+        # Valid request
+        output = self.app.post(
+            '/api/0/new/', data=data, headers=headers)
+        self.assertEqual(output.status_code, 200)
+        data = json.loads(output.data)
+        self.assertDictEqual(
+            data,
+            {'message': 'Project "pingou/test" created'}
+        )
+
     @patch('pagure.lib.git.generate_gitolite_acls')
     def test_api_new_project_user_token(self, p_gga):
         """ Test the api_new_project method of the flask api. """