diff --git a/pkg/cmd/secret/list/list.go b/pkg/cmd/secret/list/list.go
index acf6eba52..0d2e6f3f1 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/secret/list/list.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/secret/list/list.go
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ func listRun(opts *ListOptions) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s secrets are not supported for %s", secretEntity, secretApp)
 	}
 
+	// Since populating the `NumSelectedRepos` field costs further API requests
+	// (one per secret), it's important to avoid extra calls when the output will
+	// not present the field's value. So, we should only populate this field in
+	// these cases:
+	//  1. The command is run in the TTY mode without the `--json <fields>` option.
+	//  2. The command is run with `--json <fields>` option, and `numSelectedRepos`
+	//     is among the selected fields. In this case, TTY mode is irrelevant.
 	showSelectedRepoInfo := opts.IO.IsStdoutTTY()
 	if opts.Exporter != nil {
 		// Note that if there's an exporter set, then we don't mind the TTY mode