diff --git a/httpclient/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/ProxyClient.java b/httpclient/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/ProxyClient.java
index 6382586b6..920bf085c 100644
--- a/httpclient/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/ProxyClient.java
+++ b/httpclient/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/ProxyClient.java
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
  * ProxyClient can be used to establish a tunnel via an HTTP proxy.
  */
 @SuppressWarnings("deprecation")
-public final class ProxyClient {
+public class ProxyClient {
 
     private final HttpConnectionFactory<HttpRoute, ManagedHttpClientConnection> connFactory;
     private final ConnectionConfig connectionConfig;