diff --git a/com.ibm.wala.core/src/com/ibm/wala/logic/Variable.java b/com.ibm.wala.core/src/com/ibm/wala/logic/Variable.java
index d500e5014..259390c81 100644
--- a/com.ibm.wala.core/src/com/ibm/wala/logic/Variable.java
+++ b/com.ibm.wala.core/src/com/ibm/wala/logic/Variable.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public class Variable implements ITerm, Comparable<Variable> {
    */
   private final IntPair range;
 
-  private Variable(int number, IntPair range) {
+  protected Variable(int number, IntPair range) {
     this.number = number;
     this.range = range;
   }