diff --git a/code/model/SiteTree.php b/code/model/SiteTree.php
index 9d340156..712b3a39 100755
--- a/code/model/SiteTree.php
+++ b/code/model/SiteTree.php
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@ class SiteTree extends DataObject implements PermissionProvider,i18nEntityProvid
 		$this->_cache_statusFlags = null;
 	}
 	
-	public function validate() {
+	protected function validate() {
 		$result = parent::validate();
 
 		// Allowed children validation 
diff --git a/code/model/VirtualPage.php b/code/model/VirtualPage.php
index acd361a9..ac9a9151 100644
--- a/code/model/VirtualPage.php
+++ b/code/model/VirtualPage.php
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class VirtualPage extends Page {
 		}
 	}
 
-	public function validate() {
+	protected function validate() {
 		$result = parent::validate();
 
 		// "Can be root" validation