diff --git a/lib/charms/prometheus_k8s/v0/prometheus_scrape.py b/lib/charms/prometheus_k8s/v0/prometheus_scrape.py
index 07b67f05..6bb9f3cf 100644
--- a/lib/charms/prometheus_k8s/v0/prometheus_scrape.py
+++ b/lib/charms/prometheus_k8s/v0/prometheus_scrape.py
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ def __init__(
         for event_source in event_sources:
             self.framework.observe(event_source, self._update_relation_data)
 
-    def reload_alert_rules(self):
+    def _reinitialize_alert_rules(self):
         """Reloads alert rules and updates all relations."""
         self._update_relation_data(None)
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_prometheus_rules_provider.py b/tests/unit/test_prometheus_rules_provider.py
index 45da8061..1765c2c2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_prometheus_rules_provider.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_prometheus_rules_provider.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def test_reload_when_dir_is_still_empty_changes_nothing(self):
         # WHEN no rule files are present
 
         # AND the reload method is called
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # THEN relation data is unchanged
         relation = self.harness.charm.model.get_relation("metrics-endpoint")
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def test_reload_after_dir_is_populated_updates_relation_data(self):
         self.sandbox.put_file(os.path.join(self.alert_rules_path, "alert.rule"), self.ALERT)
 
         # AND the reload method is called
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # THEN relation data is updated
         relation = self.harness.charm.model.get_relation("metrics-endpoint")
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@ def test_reload_after_dir_is_emptied_updates_relation_data(self):
         # GIVEN alert files are present and relation data contains respective alerts
         alert_filename = os.path.join(self.alert_rules_path, "alert.rule")
         self.sandbox.put_file(alert_filename, self.ALERT)
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # WHEN all rule files are deleted from the alerts dir
         self.sandbox.remove(alert_filename)
 
         # AND the reload method is called
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # THEN relation data is empty again
         relation = self.harness.charm.model.get_relation("metrics-endpoint")
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ def test_reload_after_dir_itself_removed_updates_relation_data(self):
         # GIVEN alert files are present and relation data contains respective alerts
         alert_filename = os.path.join(self.alert_rules_path, "alert.rule")
         self.sandbox.put_file(alert_filename, self.ALERT)
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # WHEN the alerts dir itself is deleted
         self.sandbox.remove(alert_filename)
         self.sandbox.rmdir(self.alert_rules_path)
 
         # AND the reload method is called
-        self.harness.charm.rules_provider.reload_alert_rules()
+        self.harness.charm.rules_provider._reinitialize_alert_rules()
 
         # THEN relation data is empty again
         relation = self.harness.charm.model.get_relation("metrics-endpoint")