diff --git a/src/pluto/format/jpeg.cr b/src/pluto/format/jpeg.cr
index 8743f8b..660aaff 100644
--- a/src/pluto/format/jpeg.cr
+++ b/src/pluto/format/jpeg.cr
@@ -85,9 +85,7 @@ module Pluto::Format::JPEG
     Format::Binding::LibJPEGTurbo.free(buffer)
   end
 
-  @[Deprecated("The visibility of this method will be changing in the future, and it should not be used directly.")]
-  # :nodoc:
-  delegate check_jpeg, to: self.class
+  protected delegate check_jpeg, to: self.class
 end
 
 {% for subclass in Pluto::Image.subclasses %}
diff --git a/src/pluto/format/png.cr b/src/pluto/format/png.cr
index 901a289..9ff9b0b 100644
--- a/src/pluto/format/png.cr
+++ b/src/pluto/format/png.cr
@@ -91,9 +91,7 @@ module Pluto::Format::PNG
     LibC.free(buffer)
   end
 
-  @[Deprecated("The visibility of this method will be changing in the future, and it should not be used directly.")]
-  # :nodoc:
-  delegate check_png, to: self.class
+  protected delegate check_png, to: self.class
 end
 
 {% for subclass in Pluto::Image.subclasses %}
diff --git a/src/pluto/format/webp.cr b/src/pluto/format/webp.cr
index 52db77d..fd447b5 100644
--- a/src/pluto/format/webp.cr
+++ b/src/pluto/format/webp.cr
@@ -87,9 +87,7 @@ module Pluto::Format::WebP
     Format::Binding::LibWebP.free(buffer)
   end
 
-  @[Deprecated("The visibility of this method will be changing in the future, and it should not be used directly.")]
-  # :nodoc:
-  delegate check_webp, to: self.class
+  protected delegate check_webp, to: self.class
 end
 
 {% for subclass in Pluto::Image.subclasses %}