diff --git a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/AbstractCLaunchDelegate.java b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/AbstractCLaunchDelegate.java
index be2447ef81c..84452738831 100644
--- a/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/AbstractCLaunchDelegate.java
+++ b/launch/org.eclipse.cdt.launch/src/org/eclipse/cdt/launch/AbstractCLaunchDelegate.java
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ abstract public class AbstractCLaunchDelegate extends LaunchConfigurationDelegat
 	 * does not include the default environment of the target.
 	 * @deprecated
 	 */
-	public static Properties getEnvironmentProperty(ILaunchConfiguration config) {
+	protected Properties getEnvironmentProperty(ILaunchConfiguration config) {
 		Properties prop = new Properties();
 		Map env = null;
 		try {