diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
index 8dfd8a2841..f9b74ff8af 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ abstract class bo_merge
 	 * @param string $prefix='' prefix like eg. 'user'
 	 * @return array
 	 */
-	protected function contact_replacements($contact,$prefix='')
+	public function contact_replacements($contact,$prefix='')
 	{
 		if (!is_array($contact))
 		{