diff --git a/commands/http/parse.go b/commands/http/parse.go
index 2234c9165..d14306c41 100644
--- a/commands/http/parse.go
+++ b/commands/http/parse.go
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ func Parse(r *http.Request, root *cmds.Command) (cmds.Request, error) {
 		cmd = sub
 	}
 
+	if cmd.Private {
+		return nil, ErrNotFound
+	}
+
 	opts, args2 := parseOptions(r)
 	args = append(args, args2...)