diff --git a/libraries/entropy/db/__init__.py b/libraries/entropy/db/__init__.py
index f9af6c8be..c6ae1580a 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy/db/__init__.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy/db/__init__.py
@@ -517,7 +517,7 @@ class EntropyRepository(EntropyRepositoryBase):
                 pass
             try:
                 conn = self.__connection_cache.pop((th_id, pid))
-                if not self.readonly:
+                if not self._readonly:
                     try:
                         conn.commit()
                     except OperationalError:
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ class EntropyRepository(EntropyRepositoryBase):
         first_part = "<EntropyRepository instance at %s, %s" % (
             hex(id(self)), self._db_path,)
         second_part = ", ro: %s, caching: %s, indexing: %s" % (
-            self.readonly, self.caching(), self.__indexing,)
+            self._readonly, self.caching(), self.__indexing,)
         third_part = ", name: %s, skip_upd: %s, st_upd: %s" % (
             self.name, self.__skip_checks, self.__structure_update,)
         fourth_part = ", conn_cache: %s, cursor_cache: %s>" % (
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ class EntropyRepository(EntropyRepositoryBase):
         Reimplemented from EntropyRepositoryBase.
         Needs to call superclass method.
         """
-        if force or (not self.readonly):
+        if force or (not self._readonly):
             # NOTE: the actual commit MUST be executed before calling
             # the superclass method (that is going to call EntropyRepositoryBase
             # plugins). This to avoid that other connection to the same exact
@@ -4534,8 +4534,8 @@ class EntropyRepository(EntropyRepositoryBase):
             (not os.getenv("ETP_REPO_SCHEMA_UPDATE")):
             return
 
-        old_readonly = self.readonly
-        self.readonly = False
+        old_readonly = self._readonly
+        self._readonly = False
 
         if not self._doesTableExist("packagedesktopmime"):
             self._createPackageDesktopMimeTable()
@@ -4588,7 +4588,7 @@ class EntropyRepository(EntropyRepositoryBase):
 
         self._foreignKeySupport()
 
-        self.readonly = old_readonly
+        self._readonly = old_readonly
         self._connection().commit()
 
         if not old_readonly:
diff --git a/libraries/entropy/db/skel.py b/libraries/entropy/db/skel.py
index a1222bf58..7f0037e53 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy/db/skel.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy/db/skel.py
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ class EntropyRepositoryBase(TextInterface, EntropyRepositoryPluginStore, object)
         @param name: repository identifier (or name)
         @type name: string
         """
-        self.readonly = readonly
+        self._readonly = readonly
         self._caching = xcache
         self._temporary = temporary
         self.name = name
@@ -402,6 +402,15 @@ class EntropyRepositoryBase(TextInterface, EntropyRepositoryPluginStore, object)
         """
         return self._temporary
 
+    def readonly(self):
+        """
+        Return whether the repository is read-only.
+
+        @return: True, if repository is read-only
+        @rtype: bool
+        """
+        return self._readonly
+
     def close(self):
         """
         Close repository storage communication and open disk files.
@@ -409,7 +418,7 @@ class EntropyRepositoryBase(TextInterface, EntropyRepositoryPluginStore, object)
         Attention: call this method from your subclass, otherwise
         EntropyRepositoryPlugins won't be notified of a repo close.
         """
-        if not self.readonly:
+        if not self._readonly:
             self.commit()
 
         plugins = self.get_plugins()
diff --git a/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/db.py b/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/db.py
index 88139c8b1..cb9e53eec 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/db.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/db.py
@@ -236,6 +236,15 @@ class ServerPackagesRepository(EntropyRepository):
         return self.addPackage(pkg_data, revision = current_rev,
             formatted_content = formattedContent)
 
+    def setReadonly(self, readonly):
+        """
+        Set or unset the repository as read-only.
+
+        @param readonly: True, enable read-only
+        @type readonly: bool
+        """
+        self._readonly = bool(readonly)
+
 
 class ServerPackagesRepositoryUpdater(object):
 
diff --git a/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/main.py b/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/main.py
index f23e2035d..065dfea6c 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/main.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy/server/interfaces/main.py
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ class ServerEntropyRepositoryPlugin(EntropyRepositoryPlugin):
         if not local_dbfile_exists:
             # better than having a completely broken db
             self._metadata['read_only'] = False
-            entropy_repository_instance.readonly = False
+            # force parameters, only ServerEntropyRepository exposes
+            # the setReadonly method
+            entropy_repository_instance.setReadonly(False)
             entropy_repository_instance.initializeRepository()
             entropy_repository_instance.commit()
 
diff --git a/libraries/entropy/spm/plugins/interfaces/portage_plugin/__init__.py b/libraries/entropy/spm/plugins/interfaces/portage_plugin/__init__.py
index 985aa5448..c84038227 100644
--- a/libraries/entropy/spm/plugins/interfaces/portage_plugin/__init__.py
+++ b/libraries/entropy/spm/plugins/interfaces/portage_plugin/__init__.py
@@ -2520,8 +2520,9 @@ class PortagePlugin(SpmPlugin):
 
         if do_rescan or (str(stored_digest) != str(portage_dirs_digest)):
 
-            # force parameters
-            entropy_repository.readonly = False
+            # force parameters, only ServerEntropyRepository exposes
+            # the setReadonly method
+            entropy_repository.setReadonly(False)
             # disable upload trigger
             from entropy.server.interfaces.main import \
                 ServerEntropyRepositoryPlugin