diff --git a/src/DIPOLE/pair_lj_cut_dipole_long.h b/src/DIPOLE/pair_lj_cut_dipole_long.h
index d2d441e0e9..9997aa05fb 100644
--- a/src/DIPOLE/pair_lj_cut_dipole_long.h
+++ b/src/DIPOLE/pair_lj_cut_dipole_long.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class PairLJCutDipoleLong : public Pair {
   void write_restart_settings(FILE *);
   void read_restart_settings(FILE *);
 
- private:
+ protected:
   double cut_lj_global;
   double **cut_lj,**cut_ljsq;
   double cut_coulsq;