diff --git a/cli/main.c b/cli/main.c
index 837fa8b..99421e7 100644
--- a/cli/main.c
+++ b/cli/main.c
@@ -1039,6 +1039,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if ((want_flags & PKG_STATIC) == PKG_STATIC || personality->want_default_static)
 		want_client_flags |= (PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_SEARCH_PRIVATE | PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_MERGE_PRIVATE_FRAGMENTS);
 
+	if ((want_flags & PKG_EXISTS) == PKG_EXISTS)
+		want_client_flags |= PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_SEARCH_PRIVATE;
+
 	if ((want_flags & PKG_SHARED) == PKG_SHARED)
 		want_client_flags &= ~(PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_SEARCH_PRIVATE | PKGCONF_PKG_PKGF_MERGE_PRIVATE_FRAGMENTS);