diff --git a/checkstyle.xml b/checkstyle.xml
index 77b8d988c2662d4d3559e372a2b464be7c77fa34..9337a1f8bb64c709d8b37c45ef5633f249b47b20 100644
--- a/checkstyle.xml
+++ b/checkstyle.xml
@@ -205,7 +205,10 @@
         <module name="FinalClass"/>
         <module name="HideUtilityClassConstructor"/>
         <module name="InterfaceIsType"/>
-        <module name="VisibilityModifier"/>
+        <module name="VisibilityModifier">
+            <property name="protectedAllowed" value="true"/>
+        </module>
+
 
 
         <!-- Miscellaneous other checks.                   -->