diff --git a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/validate_uniqueness_of_matcher.rb b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/validate_uniqueness_of_matcher.rb
index a0084fd5c..ad298b145 100644
--- a/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/validate_uniqueness_of_matcher.rb
+++ b/lib/shoulda/matchers/active_record/validate_uniqueness_of_matcher.rb
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ def description_for_case_sensitive_qualifier
         end
 
         def validations
-          model._validators[@attribute].select do |validator|
+          model.validators_on(@attribute).select do |validator|
             validator.is_a?(::ActiveRecord::Validations::UniquenessValidator)
           end
         end