diff --git a/pymongo/connection.py b/pymongo/connection.py
index 8bacc65a1..5d54dd89a 100644
--- a/pymongo/connection.py
+++ b/pymongo/connection.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _parse_uri(uri, default_port):
     return (host_list, database, username, password)
 
 
-class Pool(threading.local):
+class _Pool(threading.local):
     """A simple connection pool.
 
     Uses thread-local socket per thread. By calling return_socket() a
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ class Connection(object):  # TODO support auth for pooling
 
         self.__cursor_manager = CursorManager(self)
 
-        self.__pool = Pool(self.__connect)
+        self.__pool = _Pool(self.__connect)
 
         self.__network_timeout = network_timeout
         self.__document_class = document_class
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ class Connection(object):  # TODO support auth for pooling
         .. seealso:: :meth:`end_request`
         .. versionadded:: 1.3
         """
-        self.__pool = Pool(self.__connect)
+        self.__pool = _Pool(self.__connect)
         self.__host = None
         self.__port = None
 
diff --git a/test/test_pooling.py b/test/test_pooling.py
index c3db0aed5..2a3a77512 100644
--- a/test/test_pooling.py
+++ b/test/test_pooling.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ sys.path[0:0] = [""]
 
 from nose.plugins.skip import SkipTest
 
-from pymongo.connection import Pool
+from pymongo.connection import _Pool
 from test_connection import get_connection
 
 N = 50
@@ -141,13 +141,13 @@ class TestPooling(unittest.TestCase):
         run_cases(self, [SaveAndFind, Disconnect, Unique])
 
     def test_independent_pools(self):
-        p = Pool(None)
+        p = _Pool(None)
         self.assertEqual([], p.sockets)
         self.c.end_request()
         self.assertEqual([], p.sockets)
 
         # Sensical values aren't really important here
-        p1 = Pool(5)
+        p1 = _Pool(5)
         self.assertEqual(None, p.socket_factory)
         self.assertEqual(5, p1.socket_factory)