diff --git a/activejob/lib/active_job/enqueuing.rb b/activejob/lib/active_job/enqueuing.rb
index 78eca1d2a1d044f2dce26ed9dc38fed81180b982..c73117e7f305e0e8a01d2a173f56a6c39144a1a0 100644
--- a/activejob/lib/active_job/enqueuing.rb
+++ b/activejob/lib/active_job/enqueuing.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ def perform_later(*args)
         job_or_instantiate(*args).enqueue
       end
 
-      protected
-        def job_or_instantiate(*args)
+      private
+        def job_or_instantiate(*args) # :doc:
           args.first.is_a?(self) ? args.first : new(*args)
         end
     end