diff --git a/lib/php/src/transport/TSocket.php b/lib/php/src/transport/TSocket.php
index f713016..daf9020 100644
--- a/lib/php/src/transport/TSocket.php
+++ b/lib/php/src/transport/TSocket.php
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@
    *
    * @var bool
    */
-  private $persist_ = FALSE;
+  protected $persist_ = FALSE;
 
   /**
    * Debugging on?