diff --git a/lib/workers/repository/init/config.js b/lib/workers/repository/init/config.js
index ce92347012..8a13dac868 100644
--- a/lib/workers/repository/init/config.js
+++ b/lib/workers/repository/init/config.js
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ async function mergeRenovateConfig(config) {
     await presets.resolveConfigPresets(decryptedConfig),
     config.privateKey
   );
+  delete resolvedConfig.privateKey;
   logger.trace({ config: resolvedConfig }, 'resolved config');
   returnConfig = mergeChildConfig(returnConfig, resolvedConfig);
   returnConfig.renovateJsonPresent = true;