diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
index eca180aa40..c434564126 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ public class DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator implements LdapAuthoritiesPopulator
         }
     }
 
-    private String getGroupSearchBase() {
+    protected String getGroupSearchBase() {
         return groupSearchBase;
     }