diff --git a/ApplicationCode/ProjectDataModel/RimNamedObject.h b/ApplicationCode/ProjectDataModel/RimNamedObject.h
index 4836df2b75..6bd7578a55 100644
--- a/ApplicationCode/ProjectDataModel/RimNamedObject.h
+++ b/ApplicationCode/ProjectDataModel/RimNamedObject.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
 protected:
     virtual caf::PdmFieldHandle* userDescriptionField() override;
 
-private:
+protected:
     caf::PdmField<QString> m_name;
 };