diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/functors/DefaultEquator.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/functors/DefaultEquator.java
index 29d231d75..78de84ffc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/functors/DefaultEquator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/functors/DefaultEquator.java
@@ -38,6 +38,24 @@ public class DefaultEquator<T> implements Equator<T>, Serializable {
      */
     public static final int HASHCODE_NULL = -1;
 
+    /**
+     * Factory returning the typed singleton instance.
+     * 
+     * @param <T>  the object type
+     * @return the singleton instance
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public static <T> DefaultEquator<T> defaultEquator() {
+        return (DefaultEquator<T>) DefaultEquator.INSTANCE;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Restricted constructor.
+     */
+    private DefaultEquator() {
+        super();
+    }
+
     /**
      * {@inheritDoc} Delegates to {@link Object#equals(Object)}.
      */
@@ -59,14 +77,4 @@ public class DefaultEquator<T> implements Equator<T>, Serializable {
         return INSTANCE;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Get a typed {@link DefaultEquator} instance.
-     * 
-     * @param <T>  the object type
-     * @return {@link DefaultEquator#INSTANCE}
-     */
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    public static <T> DefaultEquator<T> defaultEquator() {
-        return (DefaultEquator<T>) DefaultEquator.INSTANCE;
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/CollectionUtilsTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/CollectionUtilsTest.java
index a84c51bd5..0945ab22f 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/CollectionUtilsTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/collections4/CollectionUtilsTest.java
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ public class CollectionUtilsTest extends MockTestCase {
         assertTrue(CollectionUtils.isEqualCollection(collectionA, collB, e));
         assertTrue(CollectionUtils.isEqualCollection(collB, collectionA, e));
         
-        final Equator<Number> defaultEquator = new DefaultEquator<Number>();
+        final Equator<Number> defaultEquator = DefaultEquator.defaultEquator();
         assertFalse(CollectionUtils.isEqualCollection(collectionA, collectionB, defaultEquator));
         assertFalse(CollectionUtils.isEqualCollection(collectionA, collB, defaultEquator));        
     }