diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/Reviewers.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/Reviewers.java
index 1aea95e..04e301b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/Reviewers.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/Reviewers.java
@@ -133,10 +133,11 @@
 
   private void onEvent(ChangeEvent event) {
     ChangeInfo c = event.getChange();
-    if (config.ignoreWip() && (c.workInProgress != null && c.workInProgress)) {
+    /* Never add reviewers automatically to private changes. */
+    if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(c.isPrivate)) {
       return;
     }
-    if (config.ignorePrivate() && (c.isPrivate != null && c.isPrivate)) {
+    if (config.ignoreWip() && Boolean.TRUE.equals(c.workInProgress)) {
       return;
     }
     Project.NameKey projectName = Project.nameKey(c.project);
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersConfig.java b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersConfig.java
index 02f8872..96a4f6b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersConfig.java
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@
   private static final String KEY_ENABLE_REST = "enableREST";
   private static final String KEY_SUGGEST_ONLY = "suggestOnly";
   private static final String KEY_IGNORE_WIP = "ignoreWip";
-  private static final String KEY_IGNORE_PRIVATE = "ignorePrivate";
 
   private final PluginConfigFactory cfgFactory;
   private final String pluginName;
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@
   private final boolean enableREST;
   private final boolean suggestOnly;
   private final boolean ignoreWip;
-  private final boolean ignorePrivate;
 
   @Inject
   ReviewersConfig(PluginConfigFactory cfgFactory, @PluginName String pluginName) {
@@ -63,7 +61,6 @@
     this.enableREST = cfg.getBoolean(pluginName, null, KEY_ENABLE_REST, true);
     this.suggestOnly = cfg.getBoolean(pluginName, null, KEY_SUGGEST_ONLY, false);
     this.ignoreWip = cfg.getBoolean(pluginName, null, KEY_IGNORE_WIP, true);
-    this.ignorePrivate = cfg.getBoolean(pluginName, null, KEY_IGNORE_PRIVATE, true);
   }
 
   public ForProject forProject(Project.NameKey projectName) {
@@ -89,10 +86,6 @@
     return ignoreWip;
   }
 
-  public boolean ignorePrivate() {
-    return ignorePrivate;
-  }
-
   static class ForProject extends VersionedMetaData {
     private Config cfg;
 
diff --git a/src/main/resources/Documentation/about.md b/src/main/resources/Documentation/about.md
index b678ff5..9de1838 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/Documentation/about.md
+++ b/src/main/resources/Documentation/about.md
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 The configuration for adding reviewers to submitted changes can be
 [configured per project](config.md).
 
+__NOTE__:
+Private changes are ignored, which means that this plugin will never add reviewers
+to a change that is in `private` state. Reviewers will only be added to such a
+change if it transitions out of `private` state.
+
 SEE ALSO
 --------
 
diff --git a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
index 0b94f0e..1088535 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
+++ b/src/main/resources/Documentation/config.md
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
     enableREST = true
     suggestOnly = false
     ignoreWip = false
-    ignorePrivate = false
 ```
 
 reviewers.enableREST
@@ -29,10 +28,6 @@
 	considered when adding reviewers. Defaults to true. To enable adding
 	reviewers on changes in WIP state set this value to false.
 
-reviewers.ignorePrivate
-:	Ignore changes in private state. When set to true changes in private state
-	are not considered when adding reviewers. Defaults to true. To enable
-	adding reviewers on changes in Private state set this value to false.
 Per project configuration of the @PLUGIN@ plugin is done in the
 `reviewers.config` file of the project. Missing values are inherited
 from the parent projects. This means a global default configuration can
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersIT.java b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersIT.java
index df25b27..77a60d4 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersIT.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/googlesource/gerrit/plugins/reviewers/ReviewersIT.java
@@ -26,12 +26,16 @@
 import com.google.common.collect.Lists;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.LightweightPluginDaemonTest;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.NoHttpd;
+import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.PushOneCommit;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestAccount;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.TestPlugin;
 import com.google.gerrit.acceptance.testsuite.project.ProjectOperations;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.Account;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.BranchNameKey;
 import com.google.gerrit.entities.RefNames;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.api.changes.ReviewInput;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.client.ChangeStatus;
+import com.google.gerrit.extensions.common.ChangeInfo;
 import com.google.inject.Inject;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -83,6 +87,44 @@
     assertThat(reviewersFor(changeId)).containsExactlyElementsIn(ImmutableSet.of(user.id()));
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void dontAddReviewersForPrivateChange() throws Exception {
+    setReviewerFilters(filter("*").reviewer(user));
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange("refs/for/master%private");
+    assertThat(r.getChange().change().isPrivate()).isTrue();
+    assertNoReviewersAddedFor(r.getChangeId());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void privateBitFlippedAndReviewersAddedOnSubmit() throws Exception {
+    setReviewerFilters(filter("*").reviewer(user));
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange("refs/for/master%private");
+    assertThat(r.getChange().change().isPrivate()).isTrue();
+    String changeId = r.getChangeId();
+    assertNoReviewersAddedFor(changeId);
+    // This adds admin as reviewer
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).current().review(ReviewInput.approve());
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).current().submit();
+    assertThat(reviewersFor(changeId))
+        .containsExactlyElementsIn(ImmutableSet.of(admin.id(), user.id()));
+    ChangeInfo info = gApi.changes().id(changeId).get();
+    assertThat(info.status).isEqualTo(ChangeStatus.MERGED);
+    assertThat(info.isPrivate).isNull();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void reviewerAddedOnPrivateBitFlip() throws Exception {
+    setReviewerFilters(filter("*").reviewer(user));
+    PushOneCommit.Result r = createChange("refs/for/master%private");
+    assertThat(r.getChange().change().isPrivate()).isTrue();
+    String changeId = r.getChangeId();
+    assertNoReviewersAddedFor(changeId);
+    gApi.changes().id(changeId).setPrivate(false);
+    ChangeInfo info = gApi.changes().id(changeId).get();
+    assertThat(info.isPrivate).isNull();
+    assertThat(reviewersFor(changeId)).containsExactlyElementsIn(ImmutableSet.of(user.id()));
+  }
+
   private void setReviewerFilters(Filter... filters) throws Exception {
     fetch(testRepo, RefNames.REFS_CONFIG + ":refs/heads/config");
     testRepo.reset("refs/heads/config");