diff --git a/src/fix_wall_reflect.h b/src/fix_wall_reflect.h
index 0bf98a33c0..6b87d4039b 100644
--- a/src/fix_wall_reflect.h
+++ b/src/fix_wall_reflect.h
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 class FixWallReflect : public Fix {
  public:
   FixWallReflect(class LAMMPS *, int, char **);
-  ~FixWallReflect();
+  virtual ~FixWallReflect();
   int setmask();
   void init();
   void post_integrate();
 
- private:
+ protected:
   int nwall;
   int wallwhich[6],wallstyle[6];
   double coord0[6];