diff --git a/cqlengine/models.py b/cqlengine/models.py
index 609e0559..88493249 100644
--- a/cqlengine/models.py
+++ b/cqlengine/models.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class BaseModel(object):
             val = col.validate(getattr(self, name))
             setattr(self, name, val)
 
-    def as_dict(self):
+    def _as_dict(self):
         """ Returns a map of column names to cleaned values """
         values = self._dynamic_columns or {}
         for name, col in self._columns.items():
diff --git a/cqlengine/query.py b/cqlengine/query.py
index b01e1a9e..b8b4926d 100644
--- a/cqlengine/query.py
+++ b/cqlengine/query.py
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ class DMLQuery(object):
 
         #organize data
         value_pairs = []
-        values = self.instance.as_dict()
+        values = self.instance._as_dict()
 
         #get defined fields and their column names
         for name, col in self.model._columns.items():