diff --git a/src/library/private.cpp b/src/library/private.cpp
index 1733547772..4a19d16399 100644
--- a/src/library/private.cpp
+++ b/src/library/private.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ bool is_private(environment const & env, name const & n) {
 
 void initialize_private() {
     g_ext     = new private_ext_reg();
-    g_private = new name("private");
+    g_private = new name("_private");
     private_modification::init();
 }