diff --git a/service/storage_proxy.cc b/service/storage_proxy.cc
index 90fdaeebe6..68d9aaf5e6 100644
--- a/service/storage_proxy.cc
+++ b/service/storage_proxy.cc
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ protected:
     std::vector<gms::inet_address> _dead_endpoints;
     size_t _cl_acks = 0;
     bool _cl_achieved = false;
+protected:
     size_t total_block_for() {
         // original comment from cassandra:
         // during bootstrap, include pending endpoints in the count