diff --git a/lib/propobj.js b/lib/propobj.js
index dba5208..536e13e 100644
--- a/lib/propobj.js
+++ b/lib/propobj.js
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ var util = require( './util' ),
 exports.setup = function( base, dest, properties, members )
 {
     var prop_pub  = properties[ 'public' ],
-        prop_prot = properties[ 'protected' ]
+        prop_prot = properties[ 'protected' ],
+        prop_priv = properties[ 'private' ]
     ;
 
     // initialize each of the properties for this instance to
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ exports.setup = function( base, dest, properties, members )
     }
 
     var methods_protected = members[ 'protected' ],
+        methods_private   = members[ 'private' ],
         hasOwn            = Array.prototype.hasOwnProperty
     ;
 
@@ -57,12 +59,23 @@ exports.setup = function( base, dest, properties, members )
             dest[ method_name ] = methods_protected[ method_name ];
         }
     }
+    for ( method_name in methods_private )
+    {
+        if ( hasOwn.call( methods_private, method_name ) )
+        {
+            dest[ method_name ] = methods_private[ method_name ];
+        }
+    }
 
-    // initialize protected properties and store in instance data
+    // initialize private/protected properties and store in instance data
     for ( prop in prop_prot )
     {
         dest[ prop ] = util.clone( prop_prot[ prop ] );
     }
+    for ( prop in prop_priv )
+    {
+        dest[ prop ] = util.clone( prop_priv[ prop ] );
+    }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/test/test-class-visibility.js b/test/test-class-visibility.js
index b32fb7f..bf28361 100644
--- a/test/test-class-visibility.js
+++ b/test/test-class-visibility.js
@@ -199,3 +199,24 @@ var common  = require( './common' ),
     );
 } )();
 
+
+/**
+ * Private members should be accessible from within class methods
+ */
+( function testPrivateMembersAreAccessibleInternally()
+{
+    assert.equal(
+        foo.getProp( 'parts' ),
+        priv,
+        "Private properties are available internally"
+    );
+
+    // invoke rather than checking for equality, because the method may be
+    // wrapped
+    assert.equal(
+        foo.getProp( 'privf' )(),
+        priv,
+        "Private methods are available internally"
+    );
+} )();
+