diff --git a/src/wp-admin/options.php b/src/wp-admin/options.php
index 34b98ae294f98..6916e2e25c990 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/options.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/options.php
@@ -181,7 +181,9 @@
 	$allowed_options['general'][] = 'default_role';
 
 	$allowed_options['writing']   = array_merge( $allowed_options['writing'], $mail_options );
-	$allowed_options['writing'][] = 'ping_sites';
+	if ( '1' === get_option( 'blog_public' ) ) {
+		$allowed_options['writing'][] = 'ping_sites';
+	}
 
 	$allowed_options['media'][] = 'uploads_use_yearmonth_folders';