diff --git a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
index dda29f4d089..c4f1504a73e 100644
--- a/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
+++ b/AABB_tree/include/CGAL/internal/AABB_tree/AABB_node.h
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ private:
   const Primitive& right_data() const
                      { return *static_cast<Primitive*>(m_p_right_child); }
 
+public:
+
   Node& left_child() { return *static_cast<Node*>(m_p_left_child); }
   Node& right_child() { return *static_cast<Node*>(m_p_right_child); }
   Primitive& left_data() { return *static_cast<Primitive*>(m_p_left_child); }