diff --git a/bin/github-backup b/bin/github-backup
index 06f3a42..e3fd1f8 100755
--- a/bin/github-backup
+++ b/bin/github-backup
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ def get_github_repo_url(args, repository):
         return repository['ssh_url']
 
     auth = get_auth(args, False)
-    if auth:
+    if auth and repository['private'] == True:
         repo_url = 'https://{0}@{1}/{2}/{3}.git'.format(
             auth,
             get_github_host(args),