diff --git a/src/base/random.hh b/src/base/random.hh
index 9a3d6969a1..55d72451d3 100644
--- a/src/base/random.hh
+++ b/src/base/random.hh
@@ -61,12 +61,13 @@ class Checkpoint;
 class Random : public Serializable
 {
 
-  private:
-
-    std::mt19937_64 gen;
-
   public:
 
+    /**
+     * @ingroup api_base_utils
+     */
+    std::mt19937_64 gen;
+
     /**
      * @ingroup api_base_utils
      * @{