diff --git a/core/io/streams/string/string.factor b/core/io/streams/string/string.factor
index 184b5e1c15..10d8f7d947 100644
--- a/core/io/streams/string/string.factor
+++ b/core/io/streams/string/string.factor
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ M: null-encoding decode-char drop stream-read1 ;
 : map-last ( seq quot -- seq )
     >r dup length <reversed> [ zero? ] r> compose 2map ; inline
 
+PRIVATE>
+
 : format-table ( table -- seq )
     flip [ format-column ] map-last
     flip [ " " join ] map ;
 
-PRIVATE>
-
 M: growable dispose drop ;
 
 M: growable stream-write1 push ;