diff --git a/lib/aasm/aasm.rb b/lib/aasm/aasm.rb
index 4f72cee..f69bf08 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/aasm.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/aasm.rb
@@ -155,16 +155,16 @@ private
       event.fire_callbacks(:before, self)
 
       if new_state_name = event.fire(self, *args)
-        fired(event, old_state, new_state_name, options, &block)
+        aasm_fired(event, old_state, new_state_name, options, &block)
       else
-        failed(event_name, old_state)
+        aasm_failed(event_name, old_state)
       end
     rescue StandardError => e
       event.fire_callbacks(:error, self, e) || raise(e)
     end
   end
 
-  def fired(event, old_state, new_state_name, options)
+  def aasm_fired(event, old_state, new_state_name, options)
     persist = options[:persist]
 
     new_state = aasm.state_object_for_name(new_state_name)
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ private
     persist_successful
   end
 
-  def failed(event_name, old_state)
+  def aasm_failed(event_name, old_state)
     if self.respond_to?(:aasm_event_failed)
       self.aasm_event_failed(event_name, old_state.name)
     end
diff --git a/spec/unit/event_naming_spec.rb b/spec/unit/event_naming_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a6aae53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/unit/event_naming_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+class SimpleStateMachine
+  include AASM
+
+  aasm do
+    state :init, :initial => true
+    state :failed
+
+    event :failed do
+      transitions :from => :init, :to => :failed
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+describe "event naming" do
+  let(:state_machine) { SimpleStateMachine.new }
+
+  it "allows an event of failed without blowing the stack" do
+    state_machine.failed
+
+    expect { state_machine.failed }.to raise_error(AASM::InvalidTransition)
+  end
+end