diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/repository/query/ReturnedType.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/repository/query/ReturnedType.java
index 754a45eda..f96233d7d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/repository/query/ReturnedType.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/repository/query/ReturnedType.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public abstract class ReturnedType {
 
 	private final Class<?> domainType;
 
-	private ReturnedType(Class<?> domainType) {
+	protected ReturnedType(Class<?> domainType) {
 		this.domainType = domainType;
 	}