diff --git a/wire/core/ProcessWire.php b/wire/core/ProcessWire.php
index 0e7c1f6e..12d84895 100644
--- a/wire/core/ProcessWire.php
+++ b/wire/core/ProcessWire.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ require_once(__DIR__ . '/boot.php');
  * ~~~~~
  * #pw-body
  * 
- * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2020 by Ryan Cramer
+ * ProcessWire 3.x, Copyright 2021 by Ryan Cramer
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  * Default API vars (A-Z) 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class ProcessWire extends Wire {
 	 * Reversion revision number
 	 * 
 	 */
-	const versionRevision = 169;
+	const versionRevision = 170;
 
 	/**
 	 * Version suffix string (when applicable)
diff --git a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/FieldtypeFile.module b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/FieldtypeFile.module
index 1bcf30b0..633b1879 100644
--- a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/FieldtypeFile.module
+++ b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/FieldtypeFile.module
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
  * https://processwire.com
  *
  * @property array $allowFieldtypes Allowed Fieldtype types for custom fields
+ * @property string $defaultFileExtensions
  * @method string formatValueString(Page $page, Field $field, $value)
  *
  */
@@ -145,6 +146,11 @@ class FieldtypeFile extends FieldtypeMulti implements ConfigurableModule {
 		if($this->className() === 'FieldtypeFile') $this->allowFieldtypes = $this->defaultAllowFieldtypes;
 		parent::__construct();
 	}
+	
+	public function get($key) {
+		if($key === 'defaultFileExtensions') return $this->getDefaultFileExtensions();
+		return parent::get($key);
+	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Get the Inputfield module to handle input for this Fieldtype
@@ -1253,7 +1259,9 @@ class FieldtypeFile extends FieldtypeMulti implements ConfigurableModule {
 	 * Subclasses can override with their own string of file extensions
 	 *
 	 */
-	public function getDefaultFileExtensions() {
+	protected function getDefaultFileExtensions() {
+		// note: this method is not public because other modules are implementing it
+		// access $fieldtype->defaultFileExtensions to get the value instead
 		return "pdf doc docx xls xlsx gif jpg jpeg png";
 	}
 
diff --git a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/config.php b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/config.php
index 0e3be4cb..14fb3f93 100644
--- a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/config.php
+++ b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeFile/config.php
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class FieldtypeFileConfiguration extends Wire {
 		$f = $modules->get('InputfieldTextarea');
 		$f->attr('name', 'extensions');
 		$value = $field->get('extensions');
-		if(!$value) $value = $fieldtype->getDefaultFileExtensions();
+		if(!$value) $value = $fieldtype->get('defaultFileExtensions');
 		$f->attr('value', $value);
 		$f->attr('rows', 3);
 		$f->label = $this->_('Allowed file extensions');
diff --git a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeImage/FieldtypeImage.module b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeImage/FieldtypeImage.module
index d1009309..3c981109 100644
--- a/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeImage/FieldtypeImage.module
+++ b/wire/modules/Fieldtype/FieldtypeImage/FieldtypeImage.module
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class FieldtypeImage extends FieldtypeFile {
 	 * @return string
 	 * 
 	 */
-	public function getDefaultFileExtensions() {
+	protected function getDefaultFileExtensions() {
 		return "gif jpg jpeg png";
 	}