diff --git a/Packages/Kernel_23/include/CGAL/Kernel/Cartesian_coordinate_iterator_2.h b/Packages/Kernel_23/include/CGAL/Kernel/Cartesian_coordinate_iterator_2.h
index 7775d00a6ff..b8f6ec84071 100644
--- a/Packages/Kernel_23/include/CGAL/Kernel/Cartesian_coordinate_iterator_2.h
+++ b/Packages/Kernel_23/include/CGAL/Kernel/Cartesian_coordinate_iterator_2.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ template <class K>
 class Cartesian_coordinate_iterator_2 
 {
 
+protected:
   typedef typename K::Point_2 P;
   const P* point;
   int index;