diff --git a/dumux/common/structuredcubegridcreator.hh b/dumux/common/structuredcubegridcreator.hh
index c9fb064887e65e7ed7a90e1fc102b8c6a0960f9e..ba6077f92c7d766028f5db9dc5f263fbf5a507e7 100644
--- a/dumux/common/structuredcubegridcreator.hh
+++ b/dumux/common/structuredcubegridcreator.hh
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public:
         cubeGrid_->loadBalance();
     };
 
-private:
+protected:
     static GridPointer cubeGrid_;
 };