diff --git a/system/database/DB_driver.php b/system/database/DB_driver.php
index 71cf863..7bb5dfa 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_driver.php
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@
 	 * @param	mixed	the item to escape
 	 * @return	mixed	the item with backticks
 	 */
-	protected function protect_identifiers($item, $prefix_single = FALSE)
+	public function protect_identifiers($item, $prefix_single = FALSE)
 	{
 		return $this->_protect_identifiers($item, $prefix_single);
 	}