diff --git a/http/routing/trie.hpp b/http/routing/trie.hpp
index cf1a4537..bfa441a 100644
--- a/http/routing/trie.hpp
+++ b/http/routing/trie.hpp
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
         debugNodePrint(head(), 0U);
     }
 
-  private:
+  protected:
     const ContainedType& head() const
     {
         return nodes.front();