diff --git a/docs/api_reference/conf.py b/docs/api_reference/conf.py
index 3f742b05157..4e01aefcbad 100644
--- a/docs/api_reference/conf.py
+++ b/docs/api_reference/conf.py
@@ -87,6 +87,14 @@ class Beta(BaseAdmonition):
 def setup(app):
     app.add_directive("example_links", ExampleLinksDirective)
     app.add_directive("beta", Beta)
+    app.connect('autodoc-skip-member', skip_private_members)
+
+def skip_private_members(app, what, name, obj, skip, options):
+    if skip:
+        return True
+    if hasattr(obj, '__doc__') and obj.__doc__ and ':private:' in obj.__doc__:
+        return True
+    return None
 
 
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------