diff --git a/repos/base/include/util/bit_array.h b/repos/base/include/util/bit_array.h
index d5c4055315..dbecc9a453 100644
--- a/repos/base/include/util/bit_array.h
+++ b/repos/base/include/util/bit_array.h
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ class Genode::Bit_array_base
 		class Invalid_clear        : public Exception {};
 		class Invalid_set          : public Exception {};
 
-	private:
+	protected:
 
 		enum {
 			BITS_PER_BYTE = 8UL,
 			BITS_PER_WORD = sizeof(addr_t) * BITS_PER_BYTE
 		};
 
+	private:
+
 		unsigned _bit_cnt;
 		unsigned _word_cnt;
 		addr_t  *_words;