diff --git a/app/models/issue_observer.rb b/app/models/issue_observer.rb
index a1f9fade9554729bc29cd51ffe14fc0b17e36c4c..fadedd301f4416025e948d5297d129fbded3b59b 100644
--- a/app/models/issue_observer.rb
+++ b/app/models/issue_observer.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ class IssueObserver < ActiveRecord::Observer
     Note.create_status_change_note(issue, current_user, 'reopened') if issue.is_being_reopened?
   end
 
+  protected
+
   def send_reassigned_email(issue)
     recipient_ids = [issue.assignee_id, issue.assignee_id_was].keep_if {|id| id != current_user.id }
 
diff --git a/spec/models/issue_observer_spec.rb b/spec/models/issue_observer_spec.rb
index 8270d3db90fc1c73e87a53b15157d2e11ae1c64e..2b9798f7e53f62f2dbf26bb94faf249c4d7a193d 100644
--- a/spec/models/issue_observer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/issue_observer_spec.rb
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ describe IssueObserver do
       it_sends_a_reassigned_email_to assignee.id
       it_sends_a_reassigned_email_to previous_assignee.id
 
-      subject.send_reassigned_email(issue)
+      subject.send(:send_reassigned_email, issue)
     end
 
     context 'does not send an email to the user who made the reassignment' do
@@ -130,14 +130,14 @@ describe IssueObserver do
         it_sends_a_reassigned_email_to previous_assignee.id
         it_does_not_send_a_reassigned_email_to assignee.id
 
-        subject.send_reassigned_email(issue)
+        subject.send(:send_reassigned_email, issue)
       end
       it 'if the user is the previous assignee' do
         subject.stub(:current_user).and_return(previous_assignee)
         it_sends_a_reassigned_email_to assignee.id
         it_does_not_send_a_reassigned_email_to previous_assignee.id
 
-        subject.send_reassigned_email(issue)
+        subject.send(:send_reassigned_email, issue)
       end
     end
   end