diff --git a/src/Listener/SaveTagsToDatabase.php b/src/Listener/SaveTagsToDatabase.php
index 8996abd5..7895d589 100755
--- a/src/Listener/SaveTagsToDatabase.php
+++ b/src/Listener/SaveTagsToDatabase.php
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ public function handle(Saving $event)
                 throw new PermissionDeniedException;
             }
 
-            if (! $actor->can('bypassTagCounts', $discussion)) {
+            $isPrivate = $event->data['relationships']['recipientUsers'] !== null;
+            if (! $actor->can('bypassTagCounts', $discussion) && !$isPrivate) {
                 $this->validateTagCount('primary', $primaryCount);
                 $this->validateTagCount('secondary', $secondaryCount);
             }