@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 """Asynchronous query support backed directly by mssql-py-core.
 
+The internal entry points are ``_AsyncConnection`` and ``_AsyncCursor``.
+Their methods retain DB-API names, but the classes are not stable public API.
+
 Warning:
     Async query execution APIs are under active development and are not intended
     for production use. Their signatures, behavior, error handling, and compatibility
     may change without notice.
 """
 
 from ._native import load_py_core
-from .async_connection import AsyncConnection
-from .async_cursor import AsyncCursor
+from .async_connection import _AsyncConnection  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+from .async_cursor import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from .exception_translator import (
     DataError,
     DatabaseError,
@@ -23,8 +26,6 @@
 )
 
 __all__ = [
-    "AsyncConnection",
-    "AsyncCursor",
     "DataError",
     "DatabaseError",
     "Error",
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 from ..logging import logger
 from ._native import load_py_core
 from ._connection_context import build_async_connection_context
-from .async_cursor import AsyncCursor
+from .async_cursor import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from .exception_translator import (
     DataError,
     DatabaseError,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 )
 
 
-class AsyncConnection:
+class _AsyncConnection:
     """Thin Python wrapper over ``mssql_py_core.PyAsyncConnection``.
 
     Warning:
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ async def connect(
         autocommit: bool = False,
         timeout: int = 0,
         python_logger: Optional[Any] = None,
-    ) -> "AsyncConnection":
+    ) -> "_AsyncConnection":
         """Establish an asynchronous connection from an ODBC connection string."""
         logger_bridge = python_logger
         if logger_bridge is None and logger.is_debug_enabled:
@@ -81,12 +81,12 @@ async def connect(
         logger.debug("AsyncConnection.connect: connected")
         return cls(py_core_async_connection)
 
-    def cursor(self) -> AsyncCursor:
+    def cursor(self) -> _AsyncCursor:
         """Create a public asynchronous cursor sharing this connection."""
         with translate_py_core_exceptions():
             py_core_async_cursor = self._py_core_async_connection.cursor()
         logger.debug("AsyncConnection.cursor: cursor created")
-        return AsyncCursor(py_core_async_cursor, self)
+        return _AsyncCursor(py_core_async_cursor, self)
 
     async def commit(self) -> None:
         """Commit the active transaction, if any."""
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ async def close(self) -> None:
             await self._py_core_async_connection.close()
         logger.debug("AsyncConnection.close: completed")
 
-    async def __aenter__(self) -> "AsyncConnection":
+    async def __aenter__(self) -> "_AsyncConnection":
         logger.debug("AsyncConnection.__aenter__: entering context")
         with translate_py_core_exceptions():
             await self._py_core_async_connection.__aenter__()
@@ -157,4 +157,4 @@ def is_connected(self) -> bool:
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         state = "closed" if self.closed else "connected"
-        return f"AsyncConnection({state})"
+        return f"_AsyncConnection({state})"
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Public asynchronous cursor backed directly by mssql-py-core.
+"""Internal asynchronous cursor backed directly by mssql-py-core.
 
 Warning:
     Async query execution APIs are under active development and are not intended
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 from .exception_translator import translate_py_core_exceptions
 
 
-class AsyncCursor:
-    """Thin Python wrapper over ``mssql_py_core.PyAsyncCursor``.
+class _AsyncCursor:
+    """Internal Python wrapper over ``mssql_py_core.PyAsyncCursor``.
 
     Warning:
         This preview API is under active development and is not intended for production use.
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ async def execute(
         *parameters: Any,
         use_prepare: bool = True,
         reset_cursor: bool = True,
-    ) -> "AsyncCursor":
+    ) -> "_AsyncCursor":
         async with self._result_transition():
             return await async_execute.execute(
                 self,
 
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@
 from .exception_translator import translate_py_core_exceptions
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from .async_cursor import AsyncCursor
+    from .async_cursor import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
 
-def _get_py_core_async_cursor(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> Any:
+def _get_py_core_async_cursor(cursor: "_AsyncCursor") -> Any:
     return cursor._py_core_async_cursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def _is_non_mutating_rejection(error: BaseException) -> bool:
     )
 
 
-def _reconcile_failed_execution(cursor: "AsyncCursor", error: BaseException) -> None:
+def _reconcile_failed_execution(cursor: "_AsyncCursor", error: BaseException) -> None:
     if _is_non_mutating_rejection(error):
         return
     cursor._reset_fetch_tracking()  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ def _reconcile_failed_execution(cursor: "AsyncCursor", error: BaseException) ->
 
 
 async def execute(
-    cursor: "AsyncCursor",
+    cursor: "_AsyncCursor",
     operation: str,
     *parameters: Any,
     use_prepare: bool = True,
     reset_cursor: bool = True,
-) -> "AsyncCursor":
+) -> "_AsyncCursor":
     """Execute a statement using the py-core async cursor."""
     if len(parameters) == 1 and isinstance(parameters[0], (tuple, list, Row)):
         parameters = tuple(parameters[0])
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ async def execute(
 
 
 async def executemany(
-    cursor: "AsyncCursor",
+    cursor: "_AsyncCursor",
     operation: str,
     seq_of_parameters: Sequence[Sequence[Any]] | Sequence[Mapping[str, Any]],
     *,
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from .exception_translator import translate_py_core_exceptions
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
-    from .async_cursor import AsyncCursor
+    from .async_cursor import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
 _ResultSnapshot = tuple[
     int,
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@
 ]
 
 
-def _get_py_core_async_cursor(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> Any:
+def _get_py_core_async_cursor(cursor: "_AsyncCursor") -> Any:
     return cursor._py_core_async_cursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
 
-def _snapshot_result(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> _ResultSnapshot:
+def _snapshot_result(cursor: "_AsyncCursor") -> _ResultSnapshot:
     return (
         cursor._result_generation,  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
         cursor._column_map,  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def _snapshot_result(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> _ResultSnapshot:
 
 
 def _reconcile_failed_fetch(
-    cursor: "AsyncCursor", generation: int, operation: str, error: BaseException
+    cursor: "_AsyncCursor", generation: int, operation: str, error: BaseException
 ) -> None:
     if generation != cursor._result_generation:  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
         return
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def _wrap_row(snapshot: _ResultSnapshot, values: tuple[Any, ...]) -> Row:
     )
 
 
-async def fetchone(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> Row | None:
+async def fetchone(cursor: "_AsyncCursor") -> Row | None:
     """Fetch the next row through the py-core async cursor."""
     logger.debug("AsyncCursor.fetchone: starting")
     await cursor._wait_for_result_publication()  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ async def fetchone(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> Row | None:
     return None if row is None else _wrap_row(snapshot, row)
 
 
-async def fetchmany(cursor: "AsyncCursor", size: int | None = None) -> list[Row]:
+async def fetchmany(cursor: "_AsyncCursor", size: int | None = None) -> list[Row]:
     """Fetch up to size rows, using cursor arraysize when size is omitted."""
     await cursor._wait_for_result_publication()  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
     cursor._check_closed()  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ async def fetchmany(cursor: "AsyncCursor", size: int | None = None) -> list[Row]
     return [_wrap_row(snapshot, row) for row in rows]
 
 
-async def fetchall(cursor: "AsyncCursor") -> list[Row]:
+async def fetchall(cursor: "_AsyncCursor") -> list[Row]:
     """Fetch all remaining rows through the py-core async cursor."""
     logger.debug("AsyncCursor.fetchall: starting")
     await cursor._wait_for_result_publication()  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
 import pytest_asyncio
 
-from mssql_python.async_query import AsyncConnection
+from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncConnection  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def async_connection_string(conn_str):
 
 @pytest_asyncio.fixture
 async def async_connection(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
     try:
         yield connection
     finally:
 
@@ -2,9 +2,22 @@
 
 import pytest
 
+import mssql_python.async_query as async_query
 import mssql_python.async_query._native as native
 
 
+def test_async_entry_points_are_internal():
+    from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncConnection  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+    from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+
+    assert _AsyncConnection.__name__ == "_AsyncConnection"
+    assert _AsyncCursor.__name__ == "_AsyncCursor"
+    for name in ("AsyncConnection", "AsyncCursor"):
+        assert not hasattr(async_query, name)
+        assert name not in async_query.__all__
+        assert f"_{name}" not in async_query.__all__
+
+
 def test_load_py_core_uses_direct_native_dependency():
     pytest.importorskip("mssql_py_core", exc_type=ImportError)
 
 
@@ -7,14 +7,15 @@
     InterfaceError,
     NotSupportedError,
 )
-from mssql_python.async_query import AsyncConnection, AsyncCursor
+from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncConnection  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
+from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncCursor  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from mssql_python.async_query._connection_context import build_async_connection_context
 from mssql_python.helpers import connstr_to_pycore_params
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_connect_accepts_login_options_with_real_py_core(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(
         async_connection_string,
         autocommit=True,
         timeout=12,
@@ -24,14 +25,14 @@ async def test_connect_accepts_login_options_with_real_py_core(async_connection_
         assert connection.autocommit is True
         assert connection.closed is False
         assert connection.is_connected() is True
-        assert repr(connection) == "AsyncConnection(connected)"
+        assert repr(connection) == "_AsyncConnection(connected)"
     finally:
         await connection.close()
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_connect_defaults_autocommit_to_false(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
     try:
         assert connection.autocommit is False
     finally:
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ def test_async_connection_rejects_missing_server():
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_connection_exposes_complete_native_surface(async_connection):
     cursor = async_connection.cursor()
-    assert isinstance(cursor, AsyncCursor)
+    assert isinstance(cursor, _AsyncCursor)
     assert async_connection.timeout == 0
     async_connection.timeout = 12
     assert async_connection.timeout == 12
@@ -279,7 +280,7 @@ async def test_connection_exposes_complete_native_surface(async_connection):
     with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
         setattr(async_connection, "closed", True)
     assert async_connection.is_connected() is True
-    assert repr(async_connection) == "AsyncConnection(connected)"
+    assert repr(async_connection) == "_AsyncConnection(connected)"
 
     await cursor.close()
     assert await async_connection.commit() is None
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@ async def test_connection_exposes_complete_native_surface(async_connection):
 async def test_async_context_manager_returns_wrapper_and_closes_connection(
     async_connection_string,
 ):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
 
     async with connection as entered:
         assert entered is connection
@@ -302,19 +303,19 @@ async def test_async_context_manager_returns_wrapper_and_closes_connection(
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_close_can_be_called_repeatedly(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
 
     await connection.close()
     await connection.close()
 
     assert connection.closed is True
     assert connection.is_connected() is False
-    assert repr(connection) == "AsyncConnection(closed)"
+    assert repr(connection) == "_AsyncConnection(closed)"
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_operations_after_close_translate_native_errors(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
     await connection.close()
 
     with pytest.raises(InterfaceError, match="Connection is closed") as cursor_error:
@@ -338,7 +339,7 @@ async def test_operations_after_close_translate_native_errors(async_connection_s
 async def test_context_manager_preserves_block_exception_and_closes_connection(
     async_connection_string,
 ):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
 
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="user_error_42"):
         async with connection:
 
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 mssql_py_core = pytest.importorskip("mssql_py_core", exc_type=ImportError)
 
 from mssql_python import exceptions as public_exceptions
-from mssql_python.async_query import AsyncConnection
+from mssql_python.async_query import _AsyncConnection  # pyright: ignore[reportPrivateUsage]
 from mssql_python.async_query.exception_translator import (
     translate_py_core_exception,
     translate_py_core_exceptions,
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ async def test_closed_cursor_executemany_checks_state_before_parameters(async_co
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_connection_close_invalidates_cursor_fetchmany_fast_path(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
     cursor = connection.cursor()
     await connection.close()
 
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ async def test_execute_programming_error_preserves_diagnostics_and_cursor_is_reu
 async def test_executemany_integrity_error_reports_row_and_preserves_partial_progress(
     async_connection_string,
 ):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string, autocommit=True)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string, autocommit=True)
     cursor = connection.cursor()
     table_name = f"async_exception_{uuid4().hex}"
     try:
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ async def test_executemany_integrity_error_reports_row_and_preserves_partial_pro
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_timeout_is_operational_error_and_cursor_is_reusable(async_connection_string):
-    connection = await AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
+    connection = await _AsyncConnection.connect(async_connection_string)
     connection.timeout = 1
     cursor = connection.cursor()
     try:
@@ -340,4 +340,4 @@ async def test_busy_connection_is_operational_error(async_connection):
 
 def test_async_connection_exposes_public_exception_classes():
     for name in EXCEPTION_NAMES:
-        assert getattr(AsyncConnection, name) is getattr(public_exceptions, name)
+        assert getattr(_AsyncConnection, name) is getattr(public_exceptions, name)