diff --git a/src/Adamlc/AddressFormat/Format.php b/src/Adamlc/AddressFormat/Format.php
index f432868..f3012b5 100644
--- a/src/Adamlc/AddressFormat/Format.php
+++ b/src/Adamlc/AddressFormat/Format.php
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
  */
 class Format implements \ArrayAccess
 {
-    private $locale;
+    protected $locale;
 
     /**
      * This map specifies the content on how to format the address