diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/LdapAuthenticationProvider.java b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/LdapAuthenticationProvider.java
index d78c0f403d..61a85eb043 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/LdapAuthenticationProvider.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/LdapAuthenticationProvider.java
@@ -184,5 +184,9 @@ public class LdapAuthenticationProvider extends AbstractUserDetailsAuthenticatio
                 authoritiesPopulator.getGrantedAuthorities(username, userDn, attributes));
 
     }
+
+    protected LdapAuthoritiesPopulator getAuthoritiesPoulator() {
+        return authoritiesPopulator;
+    }
 }