diff --git a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
index 2cabab0cd721606ddddbbfb53c33c46088858dca..89cff0806732156b66a85441b3ace2fa80522ced 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/hudson/model/AbstractProject.java
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractProject<P extends AbstractProject<P,R>,R extends A
     /**
      * True to suspend new builds.
      */
-    private boolean disabled;
+    protected boolean disabled;
 
     /**
      * Identifies {@link JDK} to be used.