diff --git a/netwerk/base/src/nsSocketTransport2.h b/netwerk/base/src/nsSocketTransport2.h
index 049da283fe8c..0cac343f0f32 100644
--- a/netwerk/base/src/nsSocketTransport2.h
+++ b/netwerk/base/src/nsSocketTransport2.h
@@ -151,10 +151,12 @@ public:
     // called when a socket event is handled
     void OnSocketEvent(PRUint32 type, nsresult status, nsISupports *param);
 
-private:
+protected:
 
     virtual ~nsSocketTransport();
 
+private:
+
     // event types
     enum {
         MSG_ENSURE_CONNECT,