diff --git a/Geo/GEdge.h b/Geo/GEdge.h
index 34860205424952cd2169e2f40c60a881a631ac5d..168b821ec6e4408429688e65f5770a8cc6023966 100644
--- a/Geo/GEdge.h
+++ b/Geo/GEdge.h
@@ -32,10 +32,12 @@ class ExtrudeParams;
 
 // A model edge.
 class GEdge : public GEntity {
+ private:
+  double _length;
+
  protected:
   GVertex *v0, *v1;
   std::list<GFace *> l_faces;
-  double _length;
 
  public:
   GEdge(GModel *model, int tag, GVertex *_v0, GVertex *_v1);