diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectControl.java b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectControl.java
index 25778a6..2a55019 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectControl.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/main/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/ProjectControl.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.Change;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.Project;
 import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.RefRight;
+import com.google.gerrit.reviewdb.SystemConfig;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.CurrentUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.ReplicationUser;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.config.GitReceivePackGroups;
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
 import com.google.inject.Provider;
 import com.google.inject.assistedinject.Assisted;
 
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@
     ProjectControl create(CurrentUser who, ProjectState ps);
   }
 
+  private final SystemConfig systemConfig;
   private final Set<AccountGroup.Id> uploadGroups;
   private final Set<AccountGroup.Id> receiveGroups;
 
@@ -109,10 +112,12 @@
   private final ProjectState state;
 
   @Inject
-  ProjectControl(@GitUploadPackGroups Set<AccountGroup.Id> uploadGroups,
+  ProjectControl(final SystemConfig systemConfig,
+      @GitUploadPackGroups Set<AccountGroup.Id> uploadGroups,
       @GitReceivePackGroups Set<AccountGroup.Id> receiveGroups,
       final RefControl.Factory refControlFactory,
       @Assisted CurrentUser who, @Assisted ProjectState ps) {
+    this.systemConfig = systemConfig;
     this.uploadGroups = uploadGroups;
     this.receiveGroups = receiveGroups;
     this.refControlFactory = refControlFactory;
@@ -197,7 +202,7 @@
   // TODO (anatol.pomazau): Try to merge this method with similar RefRightsForPattern#canPerform
   private boolean canPerformOnAnyRef(ApprovalCategory.Id actionId,
       short requireValue) {
-    final Set<AccountGroup.Id> groups = user.getEffectiveGroups();
+    final Set<AccountGroup.Id> groups = getEffectiveUserGroups();
 
     for (final RefRight pr : state.getAllRights(actionId, true)) {
       if (groups.contains(pr.getAccountGroupId())
@@ -209,6 +214,22 @@
     return false;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @return the effective groups of the current user for this project
+   */
+  private Set<AccountGroup.Id> getEffectiveUserGroups() {
+    final Set<AccountGroup.Id> userGroups = user.getEffectiveGroups();
+    if (isOwner()) {
+      final Set<AccountGroup.Id> userGroupsOnProject =
+          new HashSet<AccountGroup.Id>(userGroups.size() + 1);
+      userGroupsOnProject.addAll(userGroups);
+      userGroupsOnProject.add(systemConfig.ownerGroupId);
+      return Collections.unmodifiableSet(userGroupsOnProject);
+    } else {
+      return userGroups;
+    }
+  }
+
   private boolean canPerformOnAllRefs(ApprovalCategory.Id actionId,
       short requireValue) {
     boolean canPerform = false;
@@ -238,10 +259,10 @@
   }
 
   public boolean canRunUploadPack() {
-    return isAnyIncludedIn(uploadGroups, user.getEffectiveGroups());
+    return isAnyIncludedIn(uploadGroups, getEffectiveUserGroups());
   }
 
   public boolean canRunReceivePack() {
-    return isAnyIncludedIn(receiveGroups, user.getEffectiveGroups());
+    return isAnyIncludedIn(receiveGroups, getEffectiveUserGroups());
   }
 }
diff --git a/gerrit-server/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RefControlTest.java b/gerrit-server/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RefControlTest.java
index cf5d264..6b0f13a 100644
--- a/gerrit-server/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RefControlTest.java
+++ b/gerrit-server/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/server/project/RefControlTest.java
@@ -277,7 +277,8 @@
         return new RefControl(systemConfig, projectControl, ref);
       }
     };
-    return new ProjectControl(Collections.<AccountGroup.Id> emptySet(),
+    return new ProjectControl(systemConfig,
+        Collections.<AccountGroup.Id> emptySet(),
         Collections.<AccountGroup.Id> emptySet(), refControlFactory,
         new MockUser(memberOf), newProjectState());
   }