diff --git a/app/services/projects/transfer_service.rb b/app/services/projects/transfer_service.rb
index 7d1214eb8..157263962 100644
--- a/app/services/projects/transfer_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/projects/transfer_service.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ class Projects::TransferService < ApplicationService
 
   private
   def update_owner
-    project.members.map{|m| m.destroy! if m.user_id == owner.id || (new_owner.is_a?(Organization) && new_owner.is_member?(m.user_id)) }
+    project.members.map{|m| m.destroy! if m.user_id == owner.id || project.member(new_owner.id) || (new_owner.is_a?(Organization) && new_owner.is_member?(m.user_id)) }
+    project.set_owner_permission(new_owner)
     project.update!(user_id: new_owner.id)
   end