diff --git a/validator/src/main.rs b/validator/src/main.rs
index eb38f117a4..ac361695ff 100644
--- a/validator/src/main.rs
+++ b/validator/src/main.rs
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ pub fn main() {
                 ("RPC pubsub", rpc_pubsub_addr),
                 ("RPC banks", rpc_banks_addr),
             ] {
-                if ContactInfo::is_valid_address(&addr) {
+                if !private_rpc && ContactInfo::is_valid_address(&addr) {
                     tcp_listeners.push((
                         addr.port(),
                         TcpListener::bind(addr).unwrap_or_else(|err| {