diff --git a/src/lib/template/dom-repeat.html b/src/lib/template/dom-repeat.html
index db74fa9635..fddb0ce394 100644
--- a/src/lib/template/dom-repeat.html
+++ b/src/lib/template/dom-repeat.html
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@
       }
       // Remove any extra instances from previous state
       for (var j=this._instances.length-1; j>=i; j--) {
-        this._removeInstance(j);
+        this._detachAndRemoveInstance(j);
       }
     },
 
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@
           var idx = removedIdxs[i];
           // Removed idx may be undefined if item was previously filtered out
           if (idx !== undefined) {
-            this._removeInstance(idx);
+            this._detachAndRemoveInstance(idx);
           }
         }
       }
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@
       splices.forEach(function(s) {
         // Detach & pool removed instances
         for (var i=0; i<s.removed.length; i++) {
-          this._removeInstance(s.index);
+          this._detachAndRemoveInstance(s.index);
         }
         for (var i=0; i<s.addedKeys.length; i++) {
           this._insertPlaceholder(s.index+i, s.addedKeys[i]);
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@
       }
     },
 
-    _removeInstance: function(idx) {
+    _detachAndRemoveInstance: function(idx) {
       var inst = this._detachInstance(idx);
       if (inst) {
         this._pool.push(inst);