An electrical connector assembly including a moveable terminal stabilizer is presented. The terminal stabilizer is moveable from a stabilizing position to a stowed position. In the stabilizing position terminal stabilizer is near the tips of the terminals and in the stowed position is near the base of the terminals. The tip of the terminal is received in an aperture defined by the terminal, whereby the terminal stabilizer protects the terminal from being bent away from the terminal axis by a force applied to the terminal in a direction substantially orthogonal to the terminal axis. The terminal stabilizer also includes an integral lock retainer that engages a terminal lock member when the terminal stabilizer is in the stowed position thereby inhibiting movement of the lock member and disengaging the lock member when the terminal stabilizer is in the stabilizing position thereby allowing movement of the lock member.