diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ResourceNotFoundException.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ResourceNotFoundException.java
index d38de2e3bc1..d408fdef033 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ResourceNotFoundException.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/ResourceNotFoundException.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public class ResourceNotFoundException extends ElasticsearchException {
         super(msg, args);
     }
 
-    protected ResourceNotFoundException(String msg, Throwable cause, Object... args) {
+    public ResourceNotFoundException(String msg, Throwable cause, Object... args) {
         super(msg, cause, args);
     }