diff --git a/doc/api/api_changes.rst b/doc/api/api_changes.rst
index cef17ecca17e..589e32211557 100644
--- a/doc/api/api_changes.rst
+++ b/doc/api/api_changes.rst
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ For new features that were added to matplotlib, please see
 Changes in 1.3.x
 ================
 
+Changes in 1.3.1
+----------------
+
+It is rare that we make an API change in a bugfix release, however,
+for 1.3.1 since 1.3.0 the following change was made:
+
+- `text.Text.cached` (used to cache font objects) has been made into a
+  private variable.  Among the obvious encapsulation benefit, this
+  removes this confusing-looking member from the documentation.
+
 Code removal
 ------------
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/text.py b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
index ddf11901e018..c760aa2e9781 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/text.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/text.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class Text(Artist):
     """
     zorder = 3
 
-    cached = maxdict(50)
+    _cached = maxdict(50)
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "Text(%g,%g,%s)" % (self._x, self._y, repr(self._text))
@@ -285,8 +285,8 @@ def _get_layout(self, renderer):
         of a rotated text when necessary.
         """
         key = self.get_prop_tup()
-        if key in self.cached:
-            return self.cached[key]
+        if key in self._cached:
+            return self._cached[key]
 
         horizLayout = []
 
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ def get_text_width_height_descent(*kl, **kwargs):
         xs, ys = xys[:, 0], xys[:, 1]
 
         ret = bbox, zip(lines, whs, xs, ys), descent
-        self.cached[key] = ret
+        self._cached[key] = ret
         return ret
 
     def set_bbox(self, rectprops):