diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 6f9a7f2c06..dac1ad99d0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
     "cli": {
       "defaults": true,
       "globals": {
+        "scope": "backstage",
         "private": false
       },
       "templates": [
         {
-          "id": "local backend module example",
-          "target": "./example-cli-template.yaml"
+          "id": "example cli template",
+          "target": "./example.yaml"
         }
       ]
     }
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/new/new.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/new/new.ts
index be28a6839b..e36ce3ab16 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/new/new.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/new/new.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ export default async () => {
         templateDir: template.templatePath,
         values: {
           name: packageName,
+          privatePackage: options.private,
           pluginVersion: options.baseVersion,
           moduleVar,
           extensionName,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/new/util.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/new/util.ts
index 74a69e5082..12e2ccb936 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/new/util.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/new/util.ts
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ export async function populateOptions(
 ): Promise<Options> {
   return {
     id: prompts.id ?? '',
-    private: false,
+    private: !!prompts.private,
     baseVersion: await calculateBaseVersion(prompts.baseVersion),
     owner: prompts.owner ?? '',
     license: prompts.license ?? 'Apache-2.0',