diff --git a/laravel/validator.php b/laravel/validator.php
index 57f57688..1157209e 100644
--- a/laravel/validator.php
+++ b/laravel/validator.php
@@ -5,13 +5,6 @@
 
 class Validator {
 
-	/**
-	 * The database connection that should be used by the validator.
-	 *
-	 * @var Database\Connection
-	 */
-	public $connection;
-
 	/**
 	 * The array being validated.
 	 *
@@ -40,6 +33,13 @@ class Validator {
 	 */
 	protected $messages = array();
 
+	/**
+	 * The database connection that should be used by the validator.
+	 *
+	 * @var Database\Connection
+	 */
+	protected $connection;
+
 	/**
 	 * The language that should be used when retrieving error messages.
 	 *