diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_netstd_generator.cc b/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_netstd_generator.cc
index 47a1dd1..b76a34d 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_netstd_generator.cc
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/thrift/generate/t_netstd_generator.cc
@@ -918,7 +918,11 @@
     // make private members with public Properties
     for (m_iter = members.begin(); m_iter != members.end(); ++m_iter)
     {
-        out << indent() << "private " << declare_field(*m_iter, false, "_") << endl;
+        // if the field is required, then we use auto-properties
+        if (!field_is_required((*m_iter)))
+        {
+            out << indent() << "private " << declare_field(*m_iter, false, "_") << endl;
+        }
     }
     out << endl;