diff --git a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
index b92885fd9..11325140f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
+++ b/tests/unit/widget/widget_core.js
@@ -166,9 +166,11 @@ test( "direct usage", function() {
 });
 
 test( "error handling", function() {
-	expect( 2 );
+	expect( 3 );
 	var error = $.error;
-	$.widget( "ui.testWidget", {} );
+	$.widget( "ui.testWidget", {
+		_privateMethod: function () {}
+	});
 	$.error = function( msg ) {
 		equal( msg, "cannot call methods on testWidget prior to initialization; " +
 			"attempted to call method 'missing'", "method call before init" );
@@ -179,6 +181,11 @@ test( "error handling", function() {
 			"invalid method call on widget instance" );
 	};
 	$( "<div>" ).testWidget().testWidget( "missing" );
+	$.error = function ( msg ) {
+		equal( msg, "no such method '_privateMethod' for testWidget widget instance",
+			"invalid method call on widget instance" );
+	};
+	$( "<div>" ).testWidget().testWidget( "_privateMethod" );		
 	$.error = error;
 });
 
diff --git a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
index 0a4759023..10a25b611 100644
--- a/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
+++ b/ui/jquery.ui.widget.js
@@ -104,11 +104,6 @@ $.widget.bridge = function( name, object ) {
 			$.extend.apply( null, [ true, options ].concat(args) ) :
 			options;
 
-		// prevent calls to internal methods
-		if ( isMethodCall && options.charAt( 0 ) === "_" ) {
-			return returnValue;
-		}
-
 		if ( isMethodCall ) {
 			this.each(function() {
 				var instance = $.data( this, name );
@@ -116,7 +111,7 @@ $.widget.bridge = function( name, object ) {
 					return $.error( "cannot call methods on " + name + " prior to initialization; " +
 						"attempted to call method '" + options + "'" );
 				}
-				if ( !$.isFunction( instance[options] ) ) {
+				if ( !$.isFunction( instance[options] ) || options.charAt( 0 ) === "_" ) {
 					return $.error( "no such method '" + options + "' for " + name + " widget instance" );
 				}
 				var methodValue = instance[ options ].apply( instance, args );