diff --git a/core/io/pathnames/pathnames.factor b/core/io/pathnames/pathnames.factor
index 5a9c647973..2be66ef186 100644
--- a/core/io/pathnames/pathnames.factor
+++ b/core/io/pathnames/pathnames.factor
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ ERROR: no-parent-directory path ;
         [ f ]
     } cond ;
 
+PRIVATE>
+
 : absolute-path? ( path -- ? )
     {
         { [ dup empty? ] [ f ] }
@@ -85,8 +87,6 @@ ERROR: no-parent-directory path ;
         [ f ]
     } cond nip ;
 
-PRIVATE>
-
 : append-path ( path1 path2 -- path )
     {
         { [ over empty? ] [ append-path-empty ] }