diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/BufferConfiguration.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/BufferConfiguration.java
index 69c6f795a..53bad7097 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/BufferConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/BufferConfiguration.java
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ protected BufferConfiguration(Builder<Configuration, ?> builder) {
     /**
      * Requires that the maximum buffer size not be limited.
      */
-    protected void requireMaximumBufferSize() {
+    private void requireMaximumBufferSize() {
         if (maximumBufferSize < _Private_IonConstants.ARRAY_MAXIMUM_SIZE) {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException(
                 "Must specify an OversizedValueHandler when a custom maximum buffer size is specified."
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/IonBufferConfiguration.java b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/IonBufferConfiguration.java
index 12256bcfa..efcfa49f6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/IonBufferConfiguration.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/amazon/ion/IonBufferConfiguration.java
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 package com.amazon.ion;
 
+import com.amazon.ion.impl._Private_IonConstants;
+
 /**
  * Configures buffers that hold Ion data.
  */
@@ -185,6 +187,17 @@ private IonBufferConfiguration(Builder builder) {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Requires that the maximum buffer size not be limited.
+     */
+    private void requireMaximumBufferSize() {
+        if (getMaximumBufferSize() < _Private_IonConstants.ARRAY_MAXIMUM_SIZE) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException(
+                "Must specify both an OversizedValueHandler and OversizedSymbolTableHandler when a custom maximum buffer size is specified."
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * @return the handler that will be notified when oversized symbol tables are encountered.
      */