diff --git a/ldoc.lua b/ldoc.lua
index 8b7aaadb..9ae13e86 100644
--- a/ldoc.lua
+++ b/ldoc.lua
@@ -553,12 +553,7 @@ for mod in module_list:iter() do
    project:add(mod,module_list)
 end
 
--- the default is not to show local functions in the documentation.
-if not args.all and not ldoc.all then
-   for mod in module_list:iter() do
-      mod:mask_locals()
-   end
-end
+override 'all'
 
 if ldoc.sort_modules then
    table.sort(module_list,function(m1,m2)
diff --git a/ldoc/doc.lua b/ldoc/doc.lua
index 4e08dbcf..7be979fb 100644
--- a/ldoc/doc.lua
+++ b/ldoc/doc.lua
@@ -230,7 +230,10 @@ function File:finish()
          end
       end
       item:finish()
-      if doc.project_level(item.type) then
+      -- the default is not to show local functions in the documentation.
+      if not self.args.all and (item.type=='lfunction' or (item.tags and item.tags['local'])) then
+         -- don't add to the module --
+      elseif doc.project_level(item.type) then
          this_mod = item
          local package,mname,submodule
          if item.type == 'module' then
@@ -1187,14 +1190,6 @@ function Module:resolve_references(modules)
    end
 end
 
--- suppress the display of local functions and annotations.
--- This is just a placeholder hack until we have a more general scheme
--- for indicating 'private' content of a module.
-function Module:mask_locals ()
-   self.kinds['Local Functions'] = nil
-   self.kinds['Annotations'] = nil
-end
-
 function Item:dump_tags (taglist)
    for tag, value in pairs(self.tags) do
       if not taglist or taglist[tag] then
diff --git a/tests/styles/type.lua b/tests/styles/type.lua
index 6f2158d8..8499dc8e 100644
--- a/tests/styles/type.lua
+++ b/tests/styles/type.lua
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ function Bonzo:dog ()
 
 end
 
+----
+-- Private method.
+-- You need -a flag or 'all=true' to see these
+-- @local
+function Bonzo:cat ()
+
+end
+
+
 ----
 -- A subtable with fields.
 -- @table Details