An image forming apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a position where a toner image of a color component other than the color component of a misregistration prevention pattern and the toner image of the misregistration prevention pattern overlap each other on a surface of an image carrier; and a control unit configured to control to form the misregistration prevention pattern on the surface of the image carrier except for the overlapping position detected by the detection unit, and not to form the misregistration prevention pattern at the overlapping position on the surface of the image carrier.