diff --git a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
index 981b096..3c2b413 100644
--- a/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
+++ b/core/net/src/main/java/org/onosproject/net/intent/impl/IntentManager.java
@@ -97,9 +97,8 @@
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
     protected EventDeliveryService eventDispatcher;
 
-    // TODO: make this protected due to short term hack for ONOS-1051
     @Reference(cardinality = ReferenceCardinality.MANDATORY_UNARY)
-    public FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
+    protected FlowRuleService flowRuleService;
 
 
     private ExecutorService batchExecutor;