diff --git a/git_cl.py b/git_cl.py
index a85226f86f..30088cca3a 100755
--- a/git_cl.py
+++ b/git_cl.py
@@ -2540,11 +2540,12 @@ class Changelist(object):
                                    options.add_owners_to, change)
 
     reviewers = sorted(change_desc.get_reviewers())
-    # Add cc's from the CC_LIST and --cc flag (if any).
-    if not options.private and not options.no_autocc:
+    cc = []
+    # Add CCs from WATCHLISTS and rietveld.cc git config unless this is
+    # the initial upload, the CL is private, or auto-CCing has ben disabled.
+    if not (self.GetIssue() or options.private or options.no_autocc):
       cc = self.GetCCList().split(',')
-    else:
-      cc = []
+    # Add cc's from the --cc flag.
     if options.cc:
       cc.extend(options.cc)
     cc = filter(None, [email.strip() for email in cc])
diff --git a/tests/git_cl_test.py b/tests/git_cl_test.py
index 9881bd29ce..d3b083eeec 100755
--- a/tests/git_cl_test.py
+++ b/tests/git_cl_test.py
@@ -1062,16 +1062,18 @@ class TestGitCl(TestCase):
       ref_suffix += ',m=' + title
       metrics_arguments.append('m')
 
-    calls += [
-      ((['git', 'config', 'rietveld.cc'],), ''),
-    ]
+    if issue is None:
+      calls += [
+        ((['git', 'config', 'rietveld.cc'],), ''),
+      ]
     if short_hostname == 'chromium':
       # All reviwers and ccs get into ref_suffix.
       for r in sorted(reviewers):
         ref_suffix += ',r=%s' % r
         metrics_arguments.append('r')
-      for c in sorted(['chromium-reviews+test-more-cc@chromium.org',
-                      'joe@example.com'] + cc):
+      if issue is None:
+        cc += ['chromium-reviews+test-more-cc@chromium.org', 'joe@example.com']
+      for c in sorted(cc):
         ref_suffix += ',cc=%s' % c
         metrics_arguments.append('cc')
       reviewers, cc = [], []
@@ -1091,7 +1093,9 @@ class TestGitCl(TestCase):
           ref_suffix  += ',r=%s' % r
           metrics_arguments.append('r')
           reviewers.remove(r)
-      for c in sorted(['joe@example.com'] + cc):
+      if issue is None:
+        cc += ['joe@example.com']
+      for c in sorted(cc):
         ref_suffix += ',cc=%s' % c
         metrics_arguments.append('cc')
         if c in cc: