Index: src/wp-admin/options.php
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/options.php	(revision 57077)
+++ src/wp-admin/options.php	(working copy)
@@ -179,8 +179,11 @@
 	$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';
 
 	/*