diff --git a/cake/libs/object.php b/cake/libs/object.php
index 39e92d632dc..0c633555be7 100644
--- a/cake/libs/object.php
+++ b/cake/libs/object.php
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public function dispatchMethod($method, $params = array()) {
  * @param $status see http://php.net/exit for values
  * @return void
  */
-	public function _stop($status = 0) {
+	protected function _stop($status = 0) {
 		exit($status);
 	}