diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 8f2065a..9cfc1e2 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
 
 S3method(print,pal_response)
+export(.pal_add)
 export(.pal_addin)
 export(.pal_init)
-export(pal_add)
 import(rlang)
 importFrom(elmer,content_image_file)
 importFrom(glue,glue)
diff --git a/R/pal-add-remove.R b/R/pal-add-remove.R
index aceb0e1..13e4624 100644
--- a/R/pal-add-remove.R
+++ b/R/pal-add-remove.R
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #' Creating custom pals
 #'
 #' @description
-#' Users can create custom pals using the `pal_add()` function; after passing
+#' Users can create custom pals using the `.pal_add()` function; after passing
 #' the function a role and prompt, the pal will be available on the command
 #' palette.
 #'
@@ -15,20 +15,13 @@
 #' [cli pal][pal_cli] `"replace"`s the selection, while the
 #' [roxygen pal][pal_roxygen] `"prefixes"` the selected code with documentation.
 #'
-#' @details
-#' `pal_add()` will register the add-in as coming from the pal package
-#' itself—because of this, custom pals will be deleted when the pal
-#' package is reinstalled. Include `pal_add()` code in your `.Rprofile` or
-#' make a pal extension package using `pal_add(package = TRUE)` to create
-#' persistent custom pals.
-#'
 #' @returns
 #' `NULL`, invisibly. Called for its side effect: a pal with role `role`
 #' is registered with the pal package.
 #'
 #' @name pal_add_remove
 #' @export
-pal_add <- function(
+.pal_add <- function(
     role,
     prompt = NULL,
     interface = c("replace", "prefix", "suffix")
@@ -45,7 +38,7 @@ pal_add <- function(
 }
 
 #' @rdname pal_add_remove
-pal_remove <- function(role) {
+.pal_remove <- function(role) {
   check_string(role)
   if (!role %in% list_pals()) {
     cli::cli_abort("No active pal with the given {.arg role}.")
diff --git a/R/pal-init.R b/R/pal-init.R
index 55e80b5..4e03818 100644
--- a/R/pal-init.R
+++ b/R/pal-init.R
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 #' **Users typically should not need to call this function.**
 #'
 #' * Create new pals that will automatically be registered with this function
-#' with [pal_add()].
+#' with [.pal_add()].
 #' * The [pal addin][.pal_addin()] will initialize needed pals on-the-fly.
 #'
 #' @param role The identifier for a pal prompt. By default one
 #' of `r glue::glue_collapse(paste0("[", glue::double_quote(default_roles), "]", "[pal_", default_roles, "]"), ", ", last = " or ")`,
-#' though custom pals can be added with [pal_add()].
+#' though custom pals can be added with [.pal_add()].
 #' @param fn A `new_*()` function, likely from the elmer package. Defaults
 #'   to [elmer::chat_claude()]. To set a persistent alternative default,
 #'   set the `.pal_fn` option; see examples below.
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
   if (!role %in% list_pals()) {
     cli::cli_abort(c(
       "No pals with role {.arg {role}} registered.",
-      "i" = "See {.fn pal_add}."
+      "i" = "See {.fn .pal_add}."
     ))
   }
 
diff --git a/R/zzz.R b/R/zzz.R
index 2c7b839..83d182b 100644
--- a/R/zzz.R
+++ b/R/zzz.R
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     prompt <- paste0(readLines(prompts[idx]), collapse = "\n")
     interface <- roles_and_interfaces[[idx]][2]
 
-    pal_add(role = role, prompt = prompt, interface = interface)
+    .pal_add(role = role, prompt = prompt, interface = interface)
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/man/dot-pal_init.Rd b/man/dot-pal_init.Rd
index 36b3607..9e006a2 100644
--- a/man/dot-pal_init.Rd
+++ b/man/dot-pal_init.Rd
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 \arguments{
 \item{role}{The identifier for a pal prompt. By default one
 of \link[=pal_cli]{"cli"}, \link[=pal_testthat]{"testthat"} or \link[=pal_roxygen]{"roxygen"},
-though custom pals can be added with \code{\link[=pal_add]{pal_add()}}.}
+though custom pals can be added with \code{\link[=.pal_add]{.pal_add()}}.}
 
 \item{fn}{A \verb{new_*()} function, likely from the elmer package. Defaults
 to \code{\link[elmer:chat_claude]{elmer::chat_claude()}}. To set a persistent alternative default,
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ set the \code{.pal_args} option; see examples below.}
 \strong{Users typically should not need to call this function.}
 \itemize{
 \item Create new pals that will automatically be registered with this function
-with \code{\link[=pal_add]{pal_add()}}.
+with \code{\link[=.pal_add]{.pal_add()}}.
 \item The \link[=.pal_addin]{pal addin} will initialize needed pals on-the-fly.
 }
 }
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@ to look for your API credentials and will call needed functions by itself.
 \examples{
 \dontshow{if (FALSE) (if (getRversion() >= "3.4") withAutoprint else force)(\{ # examplesIf}
 # to create a chat with claude:
- .pal_init()
+.pal_init()
 
 # or with OpenAI's 4o-mini:
- .pal_init(
+.pal_init(
   "chat_openai",
   model = "gpt-4o-mini"
 )
diff --git a/man/pal_add_remove.Rd b/man/pal_add_remove.Rd
index 918265a..a396fcd 100644
--- a/man/pal_add_remove.Rd
+++ b/man/pal_add_remove.Rd
@@ -2,16 +2,16 @@
 % Please edit documentation in R/pal-add-remove.R
 \name{pal_add_remove}
 \alias{pal_add_remove}
-\alias{pal_add}
-\alias{pal_remove}
+\alias{.pal_add}
+\alias{.pal_remove}
 \title{Creating custom pals}
 \usage{
-pal_add(role, prompt = NULL, interface = c("replace", "prefix", "suffix"))
+.pal_add(role, prompt = NULL, interface = c("replace", "prefix", "suffix"))
 
-pal_remove(role)
+.pal_remove(role)
 }
 \arguments{
-\item{role}{A single string giving the \code{\link[= .pal_init]{ .pal_init()}} role.}
+\item{role}{A single string giving the \code{\link[=.pal_init]{.pal_init()}} role.}
 
 \item{prompt}{A file path to a markdown file giving the system prompt or
 the output of \code{\link[elmer:interpolate]{elmer::interpolate()}}.}
@@ -26,14 +26,7 @@ how the pal will interact with the selection. For example, the
 is registered with the pal package.
 }
 \description{
-Users can create custom pals using the \code{pal_add()} function; after passing
+Users can create custom pals using the \code{.pal_add()} function; after passing
 the function a role and prompt, the pal will be available on the command
 palette.
 }
-\details{
-\code{pal_add()} will register the add-in as coming from the pal package
-itself—because of this, custom pals will be deleted when the pal
-package is reinstalled. Include \code{pal_add()} code in your \code{.Rprofile} or
-make a pal extension package using \code{pal_add(package = TRUE)} to create
-persistent custom pals.
-}
diff --git a/man/pal_cli.Rd b/man/pal_cli.Rd
index be801a2..4155eb1 100644
--- a/man/pal_cli.Rd
+++ b/man/pal_cli.Rd
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ Returns:
 Pals are typically interfaced with via the pal addin. To call the cli
 pal directly, use:
 
-\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_cli <-  .pal_init("cli")
+\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_cli <- .pal_init("cli")
 }\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 
 Then, to submit a query, run:
diff --git a/man/pal_roxygen.Rd b/man/pal_roxygen.Rd
index 68f376e..7b0c348 100644
--- a/man/pal_roxygen.Rd
+++ b/man/pal_roxygen.Rd
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ Returns:
 Pals are typically interfaced with via the pal addin. To call the roxygen
 pal directly, use:
 
-\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_roxygen <-  .pal_init("roxygen")
+\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_roxygen <- .pal_init("roxygen")
 }\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 
 Then, to submit a query, run:
diff --git a/man/pal_testthat.Rd b/man/pal_testthat.Rd
index 9cd39c7..5c83f62 100644
--- a/man/pal_testthat.Rd
+++ b/man/pal_testthat.Rd
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ Returns:
 Pals are typically interfaced with via the pal addin. To call the testthat
 pal directly, use:
 
-\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_testthat <-  .pal_init("testthat")
+\if{html}{\out{<div class="sourceCode r">}}\preformatted{pal_testthat <- .pal_init("testthat")
 }\if{html}{\out{</div>}}
 
 Then, to submit a query, run:
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-add-remove.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-add-remove.md
index 34356c3..b361a8f 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-add-remove.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-add-remove.md
@@ -9,48 +9,48 @@
 # pal addition with bad inputs
 
     Code
-      pal_add(role = identity, prompt = "hey")
+      .pal_add(role = identity, prompt = "hey")
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_add()`:
+      Error in `.pal_add()`:
       ! `role` must be a single string, not a function.
 
 ---
 
     Code
-      pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "no")
+      .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "no")
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_add()`:
+      Error in `.pal_add()`:
       ! `interface` should be one of "replace", "prefix", or "suffix".
 
 ---
 
     Code
-      pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "suffix")
+      .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "suffix")
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_add()`:
+      Error in `.pal_add()`:
       ! Suffixing not implemented yet.
 
 ---
 
     Code
-      pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = NULL)
+      .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = NULL)
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_add()`:
+      Error in `.pal_add()`:
       ! `interface` should be one of "replace", "prefix", or "suffix".
 
 # pal remove with bad inputs
 
     Code
-      pal_remove(role = identity)
+      .pal_remove(role = identity)
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_remove()`:
+      Error in `.pal_remove()`:
       ! `role` must be a single string, not a function.
 
 ---
 
     Code
-      pal_remove(role = "notAnActivePal")
+      .pal_remove(role = "notAnActivePal")
     Condition
-      Error in `pal_remove()`:
+      Error in `.pal_remove()`:
       ! No active pal with the given `role`.
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-init.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-init.md
index 5d751ef..1b316b0 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-init.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/pal-init.md
@@ -53,5 +53,5 @@
     Condition
       Error in `.pal_init()`:
       ! No pals with role `beep bop boop` registered.
-      i See `pal_add()`.
+      i See `.pal_add()`.
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-pal-add-remove.R b/tests/testthat/test-pal-add-remove.R
index aabcdb9..26bf746 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-pal-add-remove.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-pal-add-remove.R
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_that("pal addition and removal works", {
   withr::local_options(.pal_fn = NULL, .pal_args = NULL)
 
   boop_prompt <- "just reply with beep bop boop regardless of input"
-  pal_add("boopery", boop_prompt)
+  .pal_add("boopery", boop_prompt)
 
   expect_equal(.pal_prompt_boopery, boop_prompt)
   expect_true(is_function(.pal_rs_boopery))
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ test_that("pal addition and removal works", {
   res <- pal_boopery$chat("hey there")
   expect_true(grepl("bop", res))
 
-  pal_remove("boopery")
+  .pal_remove("boopery")
 
   expect_false(".pal_last_boopery" %in% names(pal_env()))
   expect_false(".pal_prompt_boopery" %in% names(pal_env()))
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ test_that("pal addition and removal works", {
 test_that("pal addition with bad inputs", {
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_add(role = identity, prompt = "hey")
+    .pal_add(role = identity, prompt = "hey")
   )
 
   # TODO: decide on `prompt` interface and test
@@ -36,25 +36,25 @@ test_that("pal addition with bad inputs", {
 
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "no")
+    .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "no")
   )
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "suffix")
+    .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = "suffix")
   )
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = NULL)
+    .pal_add(role = "sillyhead", prompt = "hey", interface = NULL)
   )
 })
 
 test_that("pal remove with bad inputs", {
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_remove(role = identity)
+    .pal_remove(role = identity)
   )
   expect_snapshot(
     error = TRUE,
-    pal_remove(role = "notAnActivePal")
+    .pal_remove(role = "notAnActivePal")
   )
 })