diff --git a/src/blueapi/utils/ophyd_async_connect.py b/src/blueapi/utils/ophyd_async_connect.py
index ee463403e..31423a739 100644
--- a/src/blueapi/utils/ophyd_async_connect.py
+++ b/src/blueapi/utils/ophyd_async_connect.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ async def _wait_for_tasks(tasks: Dict[asyncio.Task, str], timeout: float):
             t.cancel()
             with suppress(Exception):
                 await t
-            msg += format_error_message(tasks, t)
+            msg += _format_awaited_task_error_message(tasks, t)
         logging.error(msg)
     raised = [t for t in done if t.exception()]
     if raised:
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ async def _wait_for_tasks(tasks: Dict[asyncio.Task, str], timeout: float):
         raise NotConnected("Not all Devices connected")
 
 
-def format_error_message(tasks: Dict[asyncio.Task, str], t: asyncio.Task) -> str:
+def _format_awaited_task_error_message(
+    tasks: Dict[asyncio.Task, str], t: asyncio.Task
+) -> str:
     e = t.exception()
     part_one = f"\n  {tasks[t]}: {type(e).__name__}"
     lines = str(e).splitlines()
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_ophyd_async_connect.py b/tests/utils/test_ophyd_async_connect.py
index f9cdf7006..f3dcba767 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_ophyd_async_connect.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_ophyd_async_connect.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import asyncio
 import unittest
 
-from blueapi.utils.ophyd_async_connect import format_error_message
+from blueapi.utils.ophyd_async_connect import _format_awaited_task_error_message
 from blueapi.worker.task import Task
 
 _SIMPLE_TASK = Task(name="sleep", params={"time": 0.0})
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ def test_format_error_message_single_line(self):
         task = self.loop.run_until_complete(self._create_task_with_exception(exception))
         tasks = {task: "Task1"}
         expected_output = "\n  Task1: ValueError: A single-line error"
-        self.assertEqual(format_error_message(tasks, task), expected_output)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            _format_awaited_task_error_message(tasks, task), expected_output
+        )
 
     def test_format_error_message_multi_line(self):
         # Test formatting with an exception that has a multi-line message
@@ -42,7 +44,9 @@ def test_format_error_message_multi_line(self):
         task = self.loop.run_until_complete(self._create_task_with_exception(exception))
         tasks = {task: "Task2"}
         expected_output = "\n  Task2: ValueError\n    A multi-line\n    error message"
-        self.assertEqual(format_error_message(tasks, task), expected_output)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            _format_awaited_task_error_message(tasks, task), expected_output
+        )
 
     def test_format_error_message_simple_task_failure(self):
         # Test formatting with the _SIMPLE_TASK key and a failing asyncio task
@@ -52,7 +56,9 @@ def test_format_error_message_simple_task_failure(self):
         )
         tasks = {failing_task: _SIMPLE_TASK.name}
         expected_output = "\n  sleep: RuntimeError: Simple task error"
-        self.assertEqual(format_error_message(tasks, failing_task), expected_output)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            _format_awaited_task_error_message(tasks, failing_task), expected_output
+        )
 
     def test_format_error_message_long_task_failure(self):
         # Test formatting with the _LONG_TASK key and a failing asyncio task
@@ -62,7 +68,9 @@ def test_format_error_message_long_task_failure(self):
         )
         tasks = {failing_task: _LONG_TASK.name}
         expected_output = "\n  sleep: RuntimeError: Long task error"
-        self.assertEqual(format_error_message(tasks, failing_task), expected_output)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            _format_awaited_task_error_message(tasks, failing_task), expected_output
+        )
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":