diff --git a/Pilz.Configuration/Pilz.Configuration.vbproj b/Pilz.Configuration/Pilz.Configuration.vbproj
index 430909b..6b3ee58 100644
--- a/Pilz.Configuration/Pilz.Configuration.vbproj
+++ b/Pilz.Configuration/Pilz.Configuration.vbproj
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup>
     <GeneratePackageOnBuild>True</GeneratePackageOnBuild>
-    <Version>3.0.4</Version>
+    <Version>3.0.5</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="System.Data.DataSetExtensions" Version="4.5.0" />
diff --git a/Pilz.Configuration/SettingsManager.vb b/Pilz.Configuration/SettingsManager.vb
index 946bb95..059f0db 100644
--- a/Pilz.Configuration/SettingsManager.vb
+++ b/Pilz.Configuration/SettingsManager.vb
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ Public Class SettingsManager
     Public Event SavingSettings As EventHandler
     Public Event SavedSettings As EventHandler
 
-    Private ReadOnly settingsProvider As New List(Of ISettingsProvider)
-    Private defaultInstance As ISettings = Nothing
-    Private enableAutoSave As Boolean = False
-    Private addedHandler As Boolean = False
+    Protected ReadOnly settingsProvider As New List(Of ISettingsProvider)
+    Protected defaultInstance As ISettings = Nothing
+    Protected enableAutoSave As Boolean = False
+    Protected addedHandler As Boolean = False
 
     Public Property ConfigFilePath As String
 
@@ -62,12 +62,12 @@ Public Class SettingsManager
         settingsProvider.Add(provider)
     End Sub
 
-    Private Sub AddAutoSaveHandler()
+    Protected Sub AddAutoSaveHandler()
         AddHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.ProcessExit, AddressOf AutoSaveSettingsOnExit
         addedHandler = True
     End Sub
 
-    Private Sub RemoveAutoSaveHandler()
+    Protected Sub RemoveAutoSaveHandler()
         RemoveHandler AppDomain.CurrentDomain.ProcessExit, AddressOf AutoSaveSettingsOnExit
         addedHandler = False
     End Sub