diff --git a/include/behaviortree_cpp/controls/sequence_node.h b/include/behaviortree_cpp/controls/sequence_node.h
index 5b38f8c43..0bb085705 100644
--- a/include/behaviortree_cpp/controls/sequence_node.h
+++ b/include/behaviortree_cpp/controls/sequence_node.h
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ class SequenceNode : public ControlNode
 
   virtual void halt() override;
 
-private:
+protected:
   size_t current_child_idx_;
+
+private:
   size_t skipped_count_ = 0;
   bool asynch_ = false;