diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CVariable.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CVariable.java
index 945b73ff89e..2776ea4e32a 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CVariable.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/model/CVariable.java
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ public abstract class CVariable extends AbstractCVariable implements ICDIEventLi
 		setDisposed( true );
 	}
 
-	protected int sizeof() {
+	public int sizeof() {
 		IInternalVariable iv = getCurrentInternalVariable(); 
 		return ( iv != null ) ? iv.sizeof() : -1;
 	}