diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
index 471c8a0962..b938fdd3a9 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/acegisecurity/providers/ldap/populator/DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator.java
@@ -290,6 +290,10 @@ public class DefaultLdapAuthoritiesPopulator implements LdapAuthoritiesPopulator
         }
     }
 
+    protected InitialDirContextFactory getInitialDirContextFactory() {
+        return initialDirContextFactory;
+    }
+
     protected String[] getUserRoleAttributes() {
         return userRoleAttributes;
     }