diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImpl.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImpl.java
index 21bfcd1..80d8c09 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImpl.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImpl.java
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 
     CreateProjectArgs args = new CreateProjectArgs();
     args.setProjectName(name);
+    args.permissionsOnly = projectCreation.permissionOnly().orElse(false);
     args.branch = Collections.singletonList(Constants.R_HEADS + Constants.MASTER);
     args.createEmptyCommit = projectCreation.createEmptyCommit().orElse(true);
     projectCreation.parent().ifPresent(p -> args.newParent = p);
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/TestProjectCreation.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/TestProjectCreation.java
index 99e045c..cb68d7a 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/TestProjectCreation.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/TestProjectCreation.java
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
   public abstract Optional<Boolean> createEmptyCommit();
 
+  public abstract Optional<Boolean> permissionOnly();
+
   public abstract Optional<SubmitType> submitType();
 
   abstract ThrowingFunction<TestProjectCreation, Project.NameKey> projectCreator();
@@ -48,6 +50,8 @@
 
     public abstract TestProjectCreation.Builder createEmptyCommit(boolean value);
 
+    public abstract TestProjectCreation.Builder permissionOnly(boolean value);
+
     /** Skips the empty commit on creation. This means that project's branches will not exist. */
     public TestProjectCreation.Builder noEmptyCommit() {
       return createEmptyCommit(false);
diff --git a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImplTest.java b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImplTest.java
index 65c7b5c..246d764 100644
--- a/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImplTest.java
+++ b/javatests/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/testsuite/project/ProjectOperationsImplTest.java
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.TestProjectUpdate.TestPermission;
 import com.google.gerrit.common.data.Permission;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Project;
+import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.projects.BranchInfo;
 import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.projects.ConfigInput;
 import com.google.gerrit.server.project.ProjectConfig;
@@ -84,6 +85,13 @@
   }
 
   @Test
+  public void permissionOnly() throws Exception {
+    Project.NameKey key = projectOperations.newProject().permissionOnly(true).create();
+    String head = gApi.projects().name(key.get()).head();
+    assertThat(head).isEqualTo(RefNames.REFS_CONFIG);
+  }
+
+  @Test
   public void getProjectConfig() throws Exception {
     Project.NameKey key = projectOperations.newProject().create();
     assertThat(projectOperations.project(key).getProjectConfig().getProject().getDescription())