diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/util/ByteString.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/util/ByteString.scala
index a291761d66..4efc71a325 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/util/ByteString.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/util/ByteString.scala
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ object ByteString {
 
   private[akka] object ByteString1 {
     def apply(bytes: Array[Byte]) = new ByteString1(bytes)
+    def apply(bytes: Array[Byte], startIndex: Int, length: Int) = new ByteString1(bytes, startIndex, length)
   }
 
   /**