diff --git a/system/database/DB_driver.php b/system/database/DB_driver.php
index 9e1c605..6a20c00 100644
--- a/system/database/DB_driver.php
+++ b/system/database/DB_driver.php
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 	public $cache_autodel		= FALSE;
 	public $CACHE; // The cache class object
 
-	protected $protect_identifiers		= TRUE;
+	protected $_protect_identifiers		= TRUE;
 	protected $_reserved_identifiers	= array('*'); // Identifiers that should NOT be escaped
 
 	public function __construct($params)