diff --git a/src/material/list/list-item-sections.ts b/src/material/list/list-item-sections.ts
index a4de565bda55..36cf7c0d12e3 100644
--- a/src/material/list/list-item-sections.ts
+++ b/src/material/list/list-item-sections.ts
@@ -39,12 +39,12 @@ export class MatListItemLine implements AfterViewInit {
   constructor(public _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>) {}
 
   ngAfterViewInit() {
-    this.addTitleToTruncatedText();
+    this._addTitleToTruncatedText();
   }
 
   // In case text overflow is triggered and ellipsis is applied, adds role='tooltip' and title
   // attribute to container so visual users can see the full text on hover
-  addTitleToTruncatedText() {
+  private _addTitleToTruncatedText() {
     if (this._elementRef.nativeElement.offsetWidth < this._elementRef.nativeElement.scrollWidth) {
       this._elementRef.nativeElement.setAttribute('role', 'tooltip');
       this._elementRef.nativeElement.setAttribute(
diff --git a/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md b/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
index 127509179ed1..f4bdf47387c1 100644
--- a/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
+++ b/tools/public_api_guard/material/list.md
@@ -123,8 +123,6 @@ export class MatListItemIcon extends _MatListItemGraphicBase {
 export class MatListItemLine implements AfterViewInit {
     constructor(_elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>);
     // (undocumented)
-    addTitleToTruncatedText(): void;
-    // (undocumented)
     _elementRef: ElementRef<HTMLElement>;
     // (undocumented)
     ngAfterViewInit(): void;