diff --git a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
index 9e1c2d3..94cd688 100644
--- a/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
+++ b/utils/nio/src/main/java/org/onlab/nio/IOLoop.java
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
      *
      * @param stream message stream to remove
      */
-    void removeStream(MessageStream<M> stream) {
+    protected void removeStream(MessageStream<M> stream) {
         streams.remove(stream);
     }