diff --git a/lib/websocket_rails/internal_events.rb b/lib/websocket_rails/internal_events.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/websocket_rails/internal_events.rb
+++ b/lib/websocket_rails/internal_events.rb
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ module WebsocketRails
       unless WebsocketRails[channel_name].is_private?
         WebsocketRails[channel_name].subscribe connection
         trigger_success
+      else
+        trigger_failure( { :reason => "channel is private", :hint => "use subscibe_private instead." } )
       end
-
     end
   end
 end
Call #triger_failure if client attempts to .subscribe() to private Channel.