diff --git a/services/context/repo.go b/services/context/repo.go
index 67e0c70811..977d5e37bb 100644
--- a/services/context/repo.go
+++ b/services/context/repo.go
@@ -448,12 +448,17 @@ func repoAssignmentLegacy(ctx *Context, data *repoAssignmentPrepareDataStruct) {
 			hasKey := ctx.FormString("dlid") != "" || ctx.FormString("key") != "" || ctx.FormString("download_key") != ""
 
 			// Check if downloads are set to public (download_gating=none means no key needed).
+			// Only apply to release/download paths, not the main repo page.
 			downloadsPublic := false
-			if orgCfg != nil && (orgCfg.DownloadGating == "" || orgCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
-				downloadsPublic = true
-			}
-			if repoCfg != nil && (repoCfg.DownloadGating == "" || repoCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
-				downloadsPublic = true
+			reqPath := ctx.Req.URL.Path
+			isDownloadPath := strings.Contains(reqPath, "/releases/") || strings.Contains(reqPath, "/archive/")
+			if isDownloadPath {
+				if orgCfg != nil && (orgCfg.DownloadGating == "" || orgCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
+					downloadsPublic = true
+				}
+				if repoCfg != nil && (repoCfg.DownloadGating == "" || repoCfg.DownloadGating == "none") {
+					downloadsPublic = true
+				}
 			}
 
 			if ctx.IsSigned || hasKey || downloadsPublic {