diff --git a/test/parser/test_tree.rb b/test/parser/test_tree.rb
index 88bc075c..cdd28d2c 100644
--- a/test/parser/test_tree.rb
+++ b/test/parser/test_tree.rb
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 
 module REXMLTests
   class TestTreeParser < Test::Unit::TestCase
+    private def parse(xml)
+      document = REXML::Document.new
+      parser = REXML::Parsers::TreeParser.new(xml, document)
+      parser.parse
+    end
+
     class TestInvalid < self
       def test_unmatched_close_tag
         xml = "<root></not-root>"
@@ -31,13 +37,6 @@ def test_no_close_tag
 Last 80 unconsumed characters:
         MESSAGE
       end
-
-      private
-      def parse(xml)
-        document = REXML::Document.new
-        parser = REXML::Parsers::TreeParser.new(xml, document)
-        parser.parse
-      end
     end
   end
 end