diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/function/FunctionMetadataRegistry.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/function/FunctionMetadataRegistry.java
index 91b1ac3308..bbe9ecfd80 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/function/FunctionMetadataRegistry.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/ss/formula/function/FunctionMetadataRegistry.java
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public final class FunctionMetadataRegistry {
 	private final FunctionMetadata[] _functionDataByIndex;
 	private final Map<String, FunctionMetadata> _functionDataByName;
 
-	public static FunctionMetadataRegistry getInstance() {
+	private static FunctionMetadataRegistry getInstance() {
 		if (_instance == null) {
 			_instance = FunctionMetadataReader.createRegistry();
 		}