diff --git a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
index 518c23ccbfd..427fb6b1cbb 100644
--- a/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
+++ b/dsf-gdb/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf.gdb/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/gdb/service/GDBBackend.java
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ public class GDBBackend extends AbstractDsfService implements IGDBBackend {
         });
     }
 
-    private void doInitialize(final RequestMonitor requestMonitor) {
+    public void doInitialize(final RequestMonitor requestMonitor) {
 
         final Sequence.Step[] initializeSteps = new Sequence.Step[] {
                 new GDBProcessStep(InitializationShutdownStep.Direction.INITIALIZING),