diff --git a/MeshLib/Node.h b/MeshLib/Node.h
index e41a3aee1768a4d1e38b972db4b105581a041cc1..cc62d741ccdd3b46b623d989af09bb9b217b24b0 100644
--- a/MeshLib/Node.h
+++ b/MeshLib/Node.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public:
         return Node(_x[0]-v[0], _x[1]-v[1], _x[2]-v[2]);
     }
 
-private:
+protected:
     /// Update coordinates of a node.
     /// This method automatically also updates the areas/volumes of all connected elements.
     void updateCoordinates(double x, double y, double z);