diff --git a/lib/Trait.js b/lib/Trait.js
index aa60424..209decf 100644
--- a/lib/Trait.js
+++ b/lib/Trait.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Trait.extend = function( dfn )
     // we need at least one abstract member in order to declare a class as
     // abstract (in this case, our trait class), so let's create a dummy one
     // just in case DFN does not contain any abstract members itself
-    dfn[ 'abstract protected __$$trait$$' ] = [];
+    dfn[ 'abstract protected ___$$trait$$' ] = [];
 
     function TraitType()
     {
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ function createConcrete( acls )
 {
     // start by providing a concrete implementation for our dummy method
     var dfn = {
-        'protected __$$trait$$': function() {},
+        'protected ___$$trait$$': function() {},
     };
 
     // TODO: everything else
@@ -111,44 +111,59 @@ function mixin( trait, dfn )
 {
     // the abstract class hidden within the trait
     var acls    = trait.__acls,
-        methods = acls.___$$methods$$,
-        pub     = methods['public'];
+        methods = acls.___$$methods$$;
 
     // retrieve the private member name that will contain this trait object
     var iname = addTraitInst( trait.__ccls, dfn );
 
-    // TODO: protected; ignore abstract
-    for ( var f in pub )
+    mixMethods( methods['public'], dfn, 'public', iname );
+    mixMethods( methods['protected'], dfn, 'protected', iname );
+
+    return dfn;
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Mix methods from SRC into DEST using proxies
+ *
+ * @param  {Object}  src    visibility object to scavenge from
+ * @param  {Object}  dest   destination definition object
+ * @param  {string}  vis    visibility modifier
+ * @param  {string}  ianem  proxy destination (trait instance)
+ *
+ * @return  {undefined}
+ */
+function mixMethods( src, dest, vis, iname )
+{
+    // TODO: ignore abstract
+    for ( var f in src )
     {
-        if ( !( Object.hasOwnProperty.call( pub, f ) ) )
+        if ( !( Object.hasOwnProperty.call( src, f ) ) )
         {
             continue;
         }
 
         // TODO: this is a kluge; we'll use proper reflection eventually,
-        // but for now, this is how we determine if this is an actual public
-        // method vs. something that just happens to be on the public
-        // visibility object
-        if ( !( pub[ f ].___$$keywords$$ ) )
+        // but for now, this is how we determine if this is an actual method
+        // vs. something that just happens to be on the visibility object
+        if ( !( src[ f ].___$$keywords$$ ) || f === '___$$trait$$' )
         {
             continue;
         }
 
-        var pname = 'public proxy ' + f;
+        var pname = vis + ' proxy ' + f;
 
         // if we have already set up a proxy for a field of this name, then
         // multiple traits have defined the same concrete member
-        if ( dfn[ pname ] !== undefined )
+        if ( dest[ pname ] !== undefined )
         {
             // TODO: between what traits?
             throw Error( "Trait member conflict: `" + f + "'" );
         }
 
         // proxy this method to what will be the encapsulated trait object
-        dfn[ pname ] = iname;
+        dest[ pname ] = iname;
     }
-
-    return dfn;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/test/Trait/DefinitionTest.js b/test/Trait/DefinitionTest.js
index 40ba6f0..ad2897d 100644
--- a/test/Trait/DefinitionTest.js
+++ b/test/Trait/DefinitionTest.js
@@ -45,18 +45,17 @@ require( 'common' ).testCase(
             ],
 
             // should (at least for the time being) be picked up by existing
-            // class error checks
+            // class error checks; TODO: but let's provide trait-specific
+            // error messages to avoid frustration and infuriation
             [ 'foo', "varying keywords; same visibility",
                 { 'virtual public foo': function() {} },
                 { 'public virtual foo': function() {} },
             ],
 
-            /* TODO
             [ 'foo', "different visibility",
                 { 'public foo':    function() {} },
                 { 'protected foo': function() {} },
             ],
-            */
         ];
     },
 
@@ -234,7 +233,7 @@ require( 'common' ).testCase(
             // caused the error
             this.assertOk(
                 e.message.match( '\\b' + fname + '\\b' ),
-                "Missing field name"
+                "Error message missing field name: " + e.message
             );
 
             // TODO: we can also make less people hate us if we include the