diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Task.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Task.java
index 71cbe02e9..c12cb5c9d 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Task.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/Task.java
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ public abstract class Task extends ProjectComponent {
      * @param type The name the task has been invoked as.
      *             Should not be <code>null</code>.
      */
-    void setTaskType(String type) {
+    public void setTaskType(String type) {
         this.taskType = type;
     }