diff --git a/actions/apichecknickname.php b/actions/apichecknickname.php
index 73063c61b7..a950dee135 100644
--- a/actions/apichecknickname.php
+++ b/actions/apichecknickname.php
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
  *
  * Check nickname
  *
- * Returns 1 if nickname is ok, 0 if not
+ * Returns 1 if nickname is available on this instance, 0 if not. Error if site is private.
  *
  * PHP version 5
  *
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ class ApiCheckNicknameAction extends ApiAction
     {
         parent::prepare($args);
 
+        if (common_config('site', 'private')) {
+            $this->clientError(_('This site is private.'), 403);
+        }
+
         if ($this->format !== 'json') {
             $this->clientError('This method currently only serves JSON.', 415);
         }