diff --git a/topic.go b/topic.go
index e2e7b8a..783498a 100644
--- a/topic.go
+++ b/topic.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func (t *Topic) Publish(ctx context.Context, data []byte, opts ...PubOpt) error
 		t.p.disc.Bootstrap(ctx, t.topic, pub.ready)
 	}
 
-	return t.p.val.Publish(&Message{m, t.p.host.ID(), nil})
+	return t.p.val.PushLocal(&Message{m, t.p.host.ID(), nil})
 }
 
 // WithReadiness returns a publishing option for only publishing when the router is ready.
diff --git a/validation.go b/validation.go
index 0a15262..d4ad27d 100644
--- a/validation.go
+++ b/validation.go
@@ -210,9 +210,10 @@ func (v *validation) RemoveValidator(req *rmValReq) {
 	}
 }
 
-// Publish synchronously accepts a locally published message, performs applicable
-// validations and pushes the message for propagate by the pubsub system
-func (v *validation) Publish(msg *Message) error {
+// PushLocal synchronously pushes a locally published message and performs applicable
+// validations.
+// Returns an error if validation fails
+func (v *validation) PushLocal(msg *Message) error {
 	v.p.tracer.PublishMessage(msg)
 
 	err := v.p.checkSignature(msg)