diff --git a/cores/esp32/cbuf.h b/cores/esp32/cbuf.h
index ca65affcce9..490352e3202 100644
--- a/cores/esp32/cbuf.h
+++ b/cores/esp32/cbuf.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class cbuf
 
     cbuf *next;
 
-private:
+protected:
     inline char* wrap_if_bufend(char* ptr) const
     {
         return (ptr == _bufend) ? _buf : ptr;