diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/executor/TaskMetrics.scala b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/executor/TaskMetrics.scala
index 58ef69e4ff9f7..dcef28888c215 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/executor/TaskMetrics.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/executor/TaskMetrics.scala
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class TaskMetrics extends Serializable {
    */
   private var _hostname: String = _
   def hostname = _hostname
-  def setHostname(value : String) = _hostname = value
+  private[spark] def setHostname(value : String) = _hostname = value
   
   /**
    * Time taken on the executor to deserialize this task