diff --git a/src/tiledimage.js b/src/tiledimage.js
index 974c51a6..34c7f12b 100644
--- a/src/tiledimage.js
+++ b/src/tiledimage.js
@@ -1033,24 +1033,22 @@ $.extend($.TiledImage.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, /** @lends OpenSeadrag
         }
 
         this._ownAjaxHeaders = ajaxHeaders;
-        this.updateAjaxHeaders(propagate);
+        this._updateAjaxHeaders(propagate);
     },
 
     /**
      * Update headers to include when making AJAX requests.
      *
      * This function has the same effect as calling {@link OpenSeadragon.TiledImage#setAjaxHeaders},
-     * expect that the headers for this tiled image do not change. This is especially useful
+     * except that the headers for this tiled image do not change. This is especially useful
      * for propagating updated headers from {@link OpenSeadragon.TileSource#getTileAjaxHeaders}
      * to existing tiles.
      *
-     * Note that `TiledImage.ajaxHeaders` might still change if {@link OpenSeadragon.Viewer#setAjaxHeaders}
-     * was previously called without propagating the updated headers (not recommended).
-     *
+     * @private
      * @function
      * @param {Boolean} [propagate=true] Whether to propagate updated headers to existing tiles and queued image loader jobs.
      */
-    updateAjaxHeaders: function(propagate) {
+    _updateAjaxHeaders: function(propagate) {
         if (propagate === undefined) {
             propagate = true;
         }
diff --git a/src/tilesource.js b/src/tilesource.js
index 9d553a98..f0e4c0cd 100644
--- a/src/tilesource.js
+++ b/src/tilesource.js
@@ -665,7 +665,8 @@ $.TileSource.prototype = {
      * TiledImage level (if any).
      *
      * Note that the headers of existing tiles don't automatically change when this function
-     * returns updated headers. To do that, you need to call {@link OpenSeadragon.TiledImage#updateAjaxHeaders}.
+     * returns updated headers. To do that, you need to call {@link OpenSeadragon.Viewer#setAjaxHeaders}
+     * and propagate the changes.
      *
      * @function
      * @param {Number} level
diff --git a/src/viewer.js b/src/viewer.js
index 5b9ec344..8d3fada5 100644
--- a/src/viewer.js
+++ b/src/viewer.js
@@ -1010,7 +1010,7 @@ $.extend( $.Viewer.prototype, $.EventSource.prototype, $.ControlDock.prototype,
 
         if (propagate) {
             for (var i = 0; i < this.world.getItemCount(); i++) {
-                this.world.getItemAt(i).updateAjaxHeaders(true);
+                this.world.getItemAt(i)._updateAjaxHeaders(true);
             }
 
             if (this.navigator) {