diff --git a/src/course-outline/data/api.ts b/src/course-outline/data/api.ts
index 37d5f4a397..e49682d263 100644
--- a/src/course-outline/data/api.ts
+++ b/src/course-outline/data/api.ts
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ export async function configureCourseSubsection(
  */
 export async function configureCourseUnit(variables: ConfigureUnitData): Promise<object> {
   const body = {
-    publish: variables.groupAccess ? null : variables.type,
+    publish: variables.type,
     ...(variables.type === PUBLISH_TYPES.republish ?
       {
         metadata: {
diff --git a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.tsx b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.tsx
index 67060ecdf9..953980eb86 100644
--- a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.tsx
+++ b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.tsx
@@ -1465,7 +1465,7 @@ describe('<CourseUnit />', () => {
 
     axiosMock
       .onPost(getXBlockBaseApiUrl(courseSectionVerticalMock.xblock_info.id), {
-        publish: null,
+        publish: 'republish',
         metadata: { visible_to_staff_only: true, group_access: { 50: [2] }, discussion_enabled: true },
       })
       .reply(200, { dummy: 'value' });