diff --git a/cmds/idlcli/utils.h b/cmds/idlcli/utils.h
index b874455..262f2e5 100644
--- a/cmds/idlcli/utils.h
+++ b/cmds/idlcli/utils.h
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
 
 template <typename T>
 class CommandWithSubcommands : public Command {
-private:
+protected:
     Status doArgs(Args &args) override {
         mCommand = CommandRegistry<T>::Create(*args.get());
         if (!mCommand) {