diff --git a/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/DefaultClientRequestDirector.java b/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/DefaultClientRequestDirector.java
index 36274e3c6..3a83c8bd8 100644
--- a/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/DefaultClientRequestDirector.java
+++ b/module-client/src/main/java/org/apache/http/impl/client/DefaultClientRequestDirector.java
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ public class DefaultClientRequestDirector
     }
     
     
-    private void rewriteRequestURI(
+    protected void rewriteRequestURI(
             final RequestWrapper request,
             final HttpRoute route) throws ProtocolException {
         try {