diff --git a/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh b/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
index 7f45b4b268fa6c4a60aa23e3771ac5dffbf4ce72..7bc2b2697171ba786ca7812f7236dc427647a358 100644
--- a/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
+++ b/dune/istl/bcrsmatrix.hh
@@ -1891,7 +1891,7 @@ namespace Dune {
     }
 
 
-  private:
+  protected:
     // state information
     BuildMode build_mode;     // row wise or whole matrix
     BuildStage ready;               // indicate the stage the matrix building is in