diff --git a/gerrit-httpd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/httpd/gitweb/GitWebServlet.java b/gerrit-httpd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/httpd/gitweb/GitWebServlet.java
index fb0422672b..6c37e43945 100644
--- a/gerrit-httpd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/httpd/gitweb/GitWebServlet.java
+++ b/gerrit-httpd/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/httpd/gitweb/GitWebServlet.java
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ class GitWebServlet extends HttpServlet {
     final ProjectControl project;
     try {
       project = projectControl.validateFor(nameKey);
-      if (!project.allRefsAreVisible()) {
+      if (!project.allRefsAreVisible() && !project.isOwner()) {
          // Pretend the project doesn't exist
         throw new NoSuchProjectException(nameKey);
       }