diff --git a/lib/Trait.js b/lib/Trait.js
index 0304a6b..57f338e 100644
--- a/lib/Trait.js
+++ b/lib/Trait.js
@@ -740,8 +740,18 @@ function mixMethods( src, dest, vis, iname, inparent )
             continue;
         }
 
-        var keywords = src[ f ].___$$keywords$$,
-            vis      = keywords['protected'] ? 'protected' : 'public';
+        var keywords = src[ f ].___$$keywords$$;
+
+        // TODO: This is a kluge to handle ES3 fallbacks, which will cause
+        // protected members to appear on the public prototype.  A more
+        // elegant solution is to automatically add the public keyword when
+        // the class is built, so we can just check if keywords[vis] exists.
+        if ( ( vis === 'public' ) && keywords[ 'protected' ] )
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        vis = keywords[ 'protected' ] ? 'protected' : 'public';
 
         // if abstract, then we are expected to provide the implementation;
         // otherwise, we proxy to the trait's implementation