diff --git a/models/migrations/v111.go b/models/migrations/v111.go
index 66ff4843e5..6a94298ddc 100644
--- a/models/migrations/v111.go
+++ b/models/migrations/v111.go
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func addBranchProtectionCanPushAndEnableWhitelist(x *xorm.Engine) error {
 		if user == nil {
 			hasOrgVisible = repoOwner.Visibility == VisibleTypePublic
 		} else if !user.IsAdmin {
-			isUserPartOfOrg, err := sess.
+			hasMemberWithUserID, err := sess.
 				Where("uid=?", user.ID).
 				And("org_id=?", repoOwner.ID).
 				Table("org_user").
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func addBranchProtectionCanPushAndEnableWhitelist(x *xorm.Engine) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				hasOrgVisible = false
 			}
-			if (repoOwner.Visibility == VisibleTypePrivate || user.IsRestricted) && !isUserPartOfOrg {
+			if (repoOwner.Visibility == VisibleTypePrivate || user.IsRestricted) && !hasMemberWithUserID {
 				hasOrgVisible = false
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/models/org.go b/models/org.go
index 0915e7fd56..31e5cf81c9 100644
--- a/models/org.go
+++ b/models/org.go
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ func hasOrgVisible(e Engine, org *User, user *User) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 
-	if (org.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate || user.IsRestricted) && !org.isUserPartOfOrg(e, user.ID) {
+	if (org.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate || user.IsRestricted) && !org.hasMemberWithUserID(e, user.ID) {
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
diff --git a/models/user.go b/models/user.go
index 6bd9d18b07..1c17453930 100644
--- a/models/user.go
+++ b/models/user.go
@@ -610,12 +610,12 @@ func (u *User) IsUserOrgOwner(orgID int64) bool {
 	return isOwner
 }
 
-// IsUserPartOfOrg returns true if user with userID is part of the u organisation.
-func (u *User) IsUserPartOfOrg(userID int64) bool {
-	return u.isUserPartOfOrg(x, userID)
+// HasMemberWithUserID returns true if user with userID is part of the u organisation.
+func (u *User) HasMemberWithUserID(userID int64) bool {
+	return u.hasMemberWithUserID(x, userID)
 }
 
-func (u *User) isUserPartOfOrg(e Engine, userID int64) bool {
+func (u *User) hasMemberWithUserID(e Engine, userID int64) bool {
 	isMember, err := isOrganizationMember(e, u.ID, userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("IsOrganizationMember: %v", err)
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/transfer.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/transfer.go
index 847028d106..b1271b7721 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/transfer.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/transfer.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/convert"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/log"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
 	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
 	repo_service "code.gitea.io/gitea/services/repository"
 )
@@ -53,13 +54,21 @@ func Transfer(ctx *context.APIContext, opts api.TransferRepoOption) {
 	newOwner, err := models.GetUserByName(opts.NewOwner)
 	if err != nil {
 		if models.IsErrUserNotExist(err) {
-			ctx.Error(http.StatusNotFound, "GetUserByName", err)
+			ctx.Error(http.StatusNotFound, "", "The new owner does not exist or cannot be found")
 			return
 		}
 		ctx.InternalServerError(err)
 		return
 	}
 
+	if newOwner.Type == models.UserTypeOrganization {
+		if !ctx.User.IsAdmin && newOwner.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate && !newOwner.HasMemberWithUserID(ctx.User.ID) {
+			// The user shouldn't know about this organization
+			ctx.Error(http.StatusNotFound, "", "The new owner does not exist or cannot be found")
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
 	var teams []*models.Team
 	if opts.TeamIDs != nil {
 		if !newOwner.IsOrganization() {
diff --git a/routers/repo/setting.go b/routers/repo/setting.go
index 02331c232b..e03bf556be 100644
--- a/routers/repo/setting.go
+++ b/routers/repo/setting.go
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ func SettingsPost(ctx *context.Context, form auth.RepoSettingForm) {
 		}
 
 		if newOwner.Type == models.UserTypeOrganization {
-			if !ctx.User.IsAdmin && newOwner.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate && !ctx.User.IsUserPartOfOrg(newOwner.ID) {
+			if !ctx.User.IsAdmin && newOwner.Visibility == structs.VisibleTypePrivate && !newOwner.HasMemberWithUserID(ctx.User.ID) {
 				// The user shouldn't know about this organization
 				ctx.RenderWithErr(ctx.Tr("form.enterred_invalid_owner_name"), tplSettingsOptions, nil)
 				return
diff --git a/templates/user/profile.tmpl b/templates/user/profile.tmpl
index bc2960b3b9..f453898f94 100644
--- a/templates/user/profile.tmpl
+++ b/templates/user/profile.tmpl
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 							<li>
 								<ul class="user-orgs">
 								{{range .Orgs}}
-									{{if (or .Visibility.IsPublic (and ($.SignedUser) (or .Visibility.IsLimited (and (.IsUserPartOfOrg $.SignedUserID) .Visibility.IsPrivate) ($.IsAdmin))))}}
+									{{if (or .Visibility.IsPublic (and ($.SignedUser) (or .Visibility.IsLimited (and (.HasMemberWithUserID $.SignedUserID) .Visibility.IsPrivate) ($.IsAdmin))))}}
 									<li>
 										<a href="{{.HomeLink}}"><img class="ui image poping up" src="{{.RelAvatarLink}}" data-content="{{.Name}}" data-position="top center" data-variation="tiny inverted"></a>
 									</li>