diff --git a/lib/default-input.js b/lib/default-input.js
index 46d594b..fe13f67 100644
--- a/lib/default-input.js
+++ b/lib/default-input.js
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ exports.type = yes ? type : prompt('type', type, (data) => {
   return data
 })
 
-const initPrivate = getConfig('private')
-if (initPrivate !== undefined) {
-  exports.private = initPrivate
+const initPrivate = package.private || getConfig('private')
+if (initPrivate === true) {
+  exports.private = true
 }
diff --git a/test/private-defaults.js b/test/private-defaults.js
index 97ba049..cf3dafa 100644
--- a/test/private-defaults.js
+++ b/test/private-defaults.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ t.test('private field with init-private false', async (t) => {
     config: { yes: 'yes', 'init-private': false },
   })
 
-  t.equal(data.private, false, 'private field set to false in yes mode')
+  t.equal(data.private, undefined, 'private field set to false is undefined')
 })
 
 t.test('private field without init-private', async (t) => {