diff --git a/basis/xml/dispatch/dispatch.factor b/basis/xml/dispatch/dispatch.factor
index f6b9e107e3..af47f7c14c 100644
--- a/basis/xml/dispatch/dispatch.factor
+++ b/basis/xml/dispatch/dispatch.factor
@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@ TUPLE: no-tag name word ;
 M: no-tag summary
     drop "The tag-dispatching word has no method for the given tag name" ;
 
+<PRIVATE
+
 : compile-tags ( word xtable -- quot )
     >alist swap '[ _ no-tag boa throw ] suffix
     '[ dup main>> _ case ] ;
 
+PRIVATE>
+
 : define-tags ( word -- )
     dup dup "xtable" word-prop compile-tags define ;