diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
index be6dc0770d..ba0cd29361 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
@@ -1468,7 +1468,11 @@ impl Timeline {
         *flush_loop_state = FlushLoopState::Running;
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn launch_wal_receiver(
+    /// Creates and starts the wal receiver.
+    ///
+    /// This function is expected to be called at most once per Timeline's lifecycle
+    /// when the timeline is activated.
+    fn launch_wal_receiver(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
         broker_client: BrokerClientChannel,