diff --git a/lib/MemberBuilder.js b/lib/MemberBuilder.js
index 547606b..f7891d3 100644
--- a/lib/MemberBuilder.js
+++ b/lib/MemberBuilder.js
@@ -28,11 +28,8 @@
  * @package core
  */
 
-var util = require( __dirname + '/util' ),
-
-    Warning = require( __dirname + '/warn' ).Warning,
-
-    fallback   = util.definePropertyFallback(),
+var util       = require( __dirname + '/util' ),
+    Warning    = require( __dirname + '/warn' ).Warning,
     visibility = [ 'public', 'protected', 'private' ]
 ;
 
@@ -244,7 +241,9 @@ exports._validateMethod = function(
         }
 
         // do not permit visibility deescalation
-        if ( prev_data.visibility < this._getVisibilityValue( keywords ) )
+        if ( this._getVisibilityValue( prev_keywords ) <
+            this._getVisibilityValue( keywords )
+        )
         {
             throw TypeError(
                 "Cannot de-escalate visibility of method '" + name + "'"
@@ -311,7 +310,9 @@ exports.buildProp = function( members, meta, name, value, keywords, base )
 
     // do not permit visibility de-escalation
     if ( prev &&
-        ( prev_data.visibility < this._getVisibilityValue( keywords ) )
+        ( this._getVisibilityValue( prev[ 1 ] )
+            < this._getVisibilityValue( keywords )
+        )
     )
     {
         throw TypeError(
@@ -521,7 +522,6 @@ function scanMembers( members, name, base )
                 get:        member.get,
                 set:        member.set,
                 member:     member.value,
-                visibility: ( ( fallback ) ? 0 : i ),
             };
         }
     }
@@ -613,12 +613,7 @@ exports._overrideMethod = function(
  */
 exports._getVisibilityValue = function( keywords )
 {
-    if ( fallback )
-    {
-        // if we have to fall back, we don't support levels of visibility
-        return 0;
-    }
-    else if ( keywords[ 'protected' ] )
+    if ( keywords[ 'protected' ] )
     {
         return 1;
     }
diff --git a/test/test-class-visibility.js b/test/test-class-visibility.js
index e26ef5c..795cda7 100644
--- a/test/test-class-visibility.js
+++ b/test/test-class-visibility.js
@@ -524,8 +524,6 @@ var common    = require( './common' ),
     }, Error, "Can escalate visibility of subtype members" );
 
     // same level of visibility
-    assert.doesNotThrow( function()
-    {
         Class(
         {
             'protected foo': 'bar',
@@ -534,7 +532,6 @@ var common    = require( './common' ),
             'protected foo': 'bar',
             'override protected baz': function() {},
         } );
-    }, Error, "Can retain level of visibility for subtype members" );
 } )();