diff --git a/kernel/clustering/gateway.php b/kernel/clustering/gateway.php
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/kernel/clustering/gateway.php
+++ b/kernel/clustering/gateway.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ abstract class ezpClusterGateway
      * Database instance, optional
      * @var mixed
      */
-    private $db;
+    protected $db;
 
     /**
      * Sets, if required, the database instance to $db
ClusterIndex: made  protected instead of private