diff --git a/lib/workflow.rb b/lib/workflow.rb
index c2fddae..ef881be 100644
--- a/lib/workflow.rb
+++ b/lib/workflow.rb
@@ -266,9 +266,14 @@ def run_after_transition(from, to, event, *args)
     def run_action(action, *args)
       instance_exec(*args, &action) if action
     end
+    
+    def has_callback?(action)
+      self.respond_to?(action) or self.class.private_method_defined?(action)
+    end
 
     def run_action_callback(action_name, *args)
-      self.send action_name.to_sym, *args if self.respond_to?(action_name.to_sym)
+      action = action_name.to_sym
+      self.send(action, *args) if has_callback?(action)
     end
 
     def run_on_entry(state, prior_state, triggering_event, *args)
diff --git a/test/main_test.rb b/test/main_test.rb
index 563fcb8..585ab23 100644
--- a/test/main_test.rb
+++ b/test/main_test.rb
@@ -279,8 +279,36 @@ def my_transition(args)
         end
         state :two
       end
+      
+      private
+      def another_transition(args)
+        args.another_tran
+      end
+    end
+    a = c.new
+    a.my_transition!(args)
+  end
+  
+  test 'private transition callback' do
+    args = mock()
+    args.expects(:log).once
+    c = Class.new
+    c.class_eval do
+      include Workflow
+      workflow do
+        state :new do
+          event :assign, :transitions_to => :assigned
+        end
+        state :assigned
+      end
+      
+      private
+      def assign(args)
+        args.log('Assigned')
+      end
     end
-    c.new.my_transition!(args)
+    a = c.new
+    a.assign!(args)
   end
 
   test 'Single table inheritance (STI)' do