diff --git a/src/groups.js b/src/groups.js
index c318db9942..db5974e54e 100644
--- a/src/groups.js
+++ b/src/groups.js
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ var utils = require('../public/src/utils');
 				results.base.deleted = !!parseInt(results.base.deleted, 10);
 				results.base.hidden = !!parseInt(results.base.hidden, 10);
 				results.base.system = !!parseInt(results.base.system, 10);
-				results.base.private = results.base.private ? !!parseInt(results.base.private, 10) : true;
+				results.base.private = (results.base.private === null || results.base.private === undefined) ? true : !!parseInt(results.base.private, 10);
 				results.base.disableJoinRequests = parseInt(results.base.disableJoinRequests, 10) === 1;
 				results.base.isMember = results.isMember;
 				results.base.isPending = results.isPending;
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ var utils = require('../public/src/utils');
 					group.createtimeISO = utils.toISOString(group.createtime);
 					group.hidden = parseInt(group.hidden, 10) === 1;
 					group.system = parseInt(group.system, 10) === 1;
-					group.private = parseInt(group.private, 10) === 1;
+					group.private = (group.private === null || group.private === undefined) ? true : !!parseInt(group.private, 10);
 					group.disableJoinRequests = parseInt(group.disableJoinRequests) === 1;
 
 					group['cover:url'] = group['cover:url'] || require('./coverPhoto').getDefaultGroupCover(group.name);