diff --git a/src/validators/ip_address.py b/src/validators/ip_address.py
index 66ca2e99..1bb5d134 100644
--- a/src/validators/ip_address.py
+++ b/src/validators/ip_address.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 def _check_private_ip(value: str, is_private: Optional[bool]):
     if is_private is None:
         return True
-    if is_private and (
+    if (
         any(
             value.startswith(l_bit)
             for l_bit in {
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ def _check_private_ip(value: str, is_private: Optional[bool]):
         or re.match(r"^172\.(?:1[6-9]|2\d|3[0-1])\.", value)  # private
         or re.match(r"^(?:22[4-9]|23[0-9]|24[0-9]|25[0-5])\.", value)  # broadcast
     ):
-        return True
-    return False
+        return is_private
+
+    return not is_private
 
 
 @validator
diff --git a/tests/test_ip_address.py b/tests/test_ip_address.py
index f28cdec0..ed6fd7d4 100644
--- a/tests/test_ip_address.py
+++ b/tests/test_ip_address.py
@@ -148,3 +148,59 @@ def test_returns_failed_validation_on_invalid_ipv6_cidr_address(
 ):
     """Test returns failed validation on invalid ipv6 CIDR address."""
     assert isinstance(ipv6(address, cidr=cidr, strict=strict, host_bit=host_bit), ValidationError)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("address", "private"),
+    [
+        ("10.1.1.1", True),
+        ("192.168.1.1", True),
+        ("169.254.1.1", True),
+        ("127.0.0.1", True),
+        ("0.0.0.0", True),
+    ],
+)
+def test_returns_true_on_valid_private_ipv4_address(address: str, private: bool):
+    """Test returns true on private ipv4 address."""
+    assert ipv4(address, private=private)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("address", "private"),
+    [
+        ("1.1.1.1", True),
+        ("192.169.1.1", True),
+        ("7.53.12.1", True),
+    ],
+)
+def test_returns_failed_validation_on_invalid_private_ipv4_address(address: str, private: bool):
+    """Test returns failed validation on invalid private ipv4 address."""
+    assert isinstance(ipv4(address, private=private), ValidationError)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("address", "private"),
+    [
+        ("1.1.1.1", False),
+        ("192.169.1.1", False),
+        ("7.53.12.1", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_returns_true_on_valid_public_ipv4_address(address: str, private: bool):
+    """Test returns true on valid public ipv4 address."""
+    assert ipv4(address, private=private)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("address", "private"),
+    [
+        ("10.1.1.1", False),
+        ("192.168.1.1", False),
+        ("169.254.1.1", False),
+        ("127.0.0.1", False),
+        ("0.0.0.0", False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_returns_failed_validation_on_invalid_public_ipv4_address(address: str, private: bool):
+    """Test returns failed validation on private ipv4 address."""
+    assert isinstance(ipv4(address, private=private), ValidationError)