diff --git a/peer.go b/peer.go
index 657162de..92d4973d 100644
--- a/peer.go
+++ b/peer.go
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ func (p *Peer) CloseConn() {
 	p.conn.Close()
 }
 
-// MakePersistent marks the peer as persistent.
-func (p *Peer) MakePersistent() {
+// makePersistent marks the peer as persistent.
+func (p *Peer) makePersistent() {
 	if !p.outbound {
 		panic("inbound peers can't be made persistent")
 	}
diff --git a/switch.go b/switch.go
index dff9256f..fcde2744 100644
--- a/switch.go
+++ b/switch.go
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ func (sw *Switch) DialPeerWithAddress(addr *NetAddress, persistent bool) (*Peer,
 
 	peer, err := newPeer(addr, sw.reactorsByCh, sw.chDescs, sw.StopPeerForError, sw.config, sw.nodePrivKey)
 	if persistent {
-		peer.MakePersistent()
+		peer.makePersistent()
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Info("Failed dialing peer", "address", addr, "error", err)
diff --git a/switch_test.go b/switch_test.go
index 8cfcb8c6..a9abfa0a 100644
--- a/switch_test.go
+++ b/switch_test.go
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func TestSwitchReconnectsToPersistentPeer(t *testing.T) {
 	defer close(done)
 
 	peer, err := newPeer(NewNetAddress(serverAddr), sw.reactorsByCh, sw.chDescs, sw.StopPeerForError, sw.config, sw.nodePrivKey)
-	peer.MakePersistent()
+	peer.makePersistent()
 	require.Nil(err)
 	err = sw.AddPeer(peer)
 	require.Nil(err)