diff --git a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
index 1849f7d143..6e585e2ef0 100644
--- a/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-actor-tests/src/test/scala/akka/dispatch/ActorModelSpec.scala
@@ -113,27 +113,27 @@ object ActorModelSpec {
       getStats(actorRef).resumes.incrementAndGet()
     }
 
-    private[akka] abstract override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
+    protected[akka] abstract override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
       super.register(actorRef)
       getStats(actorRef).registers.incrementAndGet()
     }
 
-    private[akka] abstract override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
+    protected[akka] abstract override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
       super.unregister(actorRef)
       getStats(actorRef).unregisters.incrementAndGet()
     }
 
-    private[akka] abstract override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) {
+    protected[akka] abstract override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) {
       getStats(invocation.receiver).msgsReceived.incrementAndGet()
       super.dispatch(invocation)
     }
 
-    private[akka] abstract override def start() {
+    protected[akka] abstract override def start() {
       super.start()
       starts.incrementAndGet()
     }
 
-    private[akka] abstract override def shutdown() {
+    protected[akka] abstract override def shutdown() {
       super.shutdown()
       stops.incrementAndGet()
     }
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/BalancingDispatcher.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/BalancingDispatcher.scala
index ffff55422d..04afac83e6 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/BalancingDispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/BalancingDispatcher.scala
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class BalancingDispatcher(
   private var members = Vector[LocalActorRef]()
   private val donationInProgress = new DynamicVariable(false)
 
-  private[akka] override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
+  protected[akka] override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
     //Verify actor type conformity
     actorType match {
       case None ⇒ actorType = Some(actorRef.actorInstance.get().getClass)
@@ -70,12 +70,12 @@ class BalancingDispatcher(
     super.register(actorRef)
   }
 
-  private[akka] override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
+  protected[akka] override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
     synchronized { members = members.filterNot(actorRef eq) } //Update members
     super.unregister(actorRef)
   }
 
-  override private[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) = {
+  override protected[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) = {
     val mbox = getMailbox(invocation.receiver)
     if (donationInProgress.value == false && (!mbox.isEmpty || mbox.dispatcherLock.locked) && attemptDonationOf(invocation, mbox)) {
       //We were busy and we got to donate the message to some other lucky guy, we're done here
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class BalancingDispatcher(
     }
   }
 
-  override private[akka] def reRegisterForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit = {
+  override protected[akka] def reRegisterForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit = {
     try {
       donationInProgress.value = true
       while (donateFrom(mbox)) {} //When we reregister, first donate messages to another actor
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Dispatcher.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Dispatcher.scala
index 410e3120cc..eaa5fc613b 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Dispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/Dispatcher.scala
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ class Dispatcher(
 
   val name = "akka:event-driven:dispatcher:" + _name
 
-  private[akka] val executorServiceFactory = executorServiceFactoryProvider.createExecutorServiceFactory(name)
-  private[akka] val executorService = new AtomicReference[ExecutorService](new LazyExecutorServiceWrapper(executorServiceFactory.createExecutorService))
+  protected[akka] val executorServiceFactory = executorServiceFactoryProvider.createExecutorServiceFactory(name)
+  protected[akka] val executorService = new AtomicReference[ExecutorService](new LazyExecutorServiceWrapper(executorServiceFactory.createExecutorService))
 
-  private[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) = {
+  protected[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation) = {
     val mbox = getMailbox(invocation.receiver)
     mbox enqueue invocation
     registerForExecution(mbox)
   }
 
-  private[akka] def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation): Unit = if (active.isOn) {
+  protected[akka] def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation): Unit = if (active.isOn) {
     try executorService.get() execute invocation
     catch {
       case e: RejectedExecutionException ⇒
@@ -131,16 +131,16 @@ class Dispatcher(
       }
   }
 
-  private[akka] def start {}
+  protected[akka] def start {}
 
-  private[akka] def shutdown {
+  protected[akka] def shutdown {
     val old = executorService.getAndSet(new LazyExecutorServiceWrapper(executorServiceFactory.createExecutorService))
     if (old ne null) {
       old.shutdownNow()
     }
   }
 
-  private[akka] def registerForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit = {
+  protected[akka] def registerForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit = {
     if (mbox.dispatcherLock.tryLock()) {
       if (active.isOn && !mbox.suspended.locked) { //If the dispatcher is active and the actor not suspended
         try {
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class Dispatcher(
     }
   }
 
-  private[akka] def reRegisterForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit =
+  protected[akka] def reRegisterForExecution(mbox: MessageQueue with ExecutableMailbox): Unit =
     registerForExecution(mbox)
 
   protected override def cleanUpMailboxFor(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
index 9eefc29e53..f57d374d4a 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/MessageHandling.scala
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
   /**
    *  Creates and returns a mailbox for the given actor.
    */
-  private[akka] def createMailbox(actorRef: LocalActorRef): AnyRef
+  protected[akka] def createMailbox(actorRef: LocalActorRef): AnyRef
 
   /**
    * Name of this dispatcher.
@@ -88,11 +88,9 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
     }
   }
 
-  private[akka] final def dispatchMessage(invocation: MessageInvocation) {
-    dispatch(invocation)
-  }
+  protected[akka] final def dispatchMessage(invocation: MessageInvocation): Unit = dispatch(invocation)
 
-  private[akka] final def dispatchTask(block: () ⇒ Unit): Unit = {
+  protected[akka] final def dispatchTask(block: () ⇒ Unit): Unit = {
     _tasks.getAndIncrement()
     try {
       if (active.isOff)
@@ -129,7 +127,7 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
    * Only "private[akka] for the sake of intercepting calls, DO NOT CALL THIS OUTSIDE OF THE DISPATCHER,
    * and only call it under the dispatcher-guard, see "attach" for the only invocation
    */
-  private[akka] def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
+  protected[akka] def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) {
     if (actorRef.mailbox eq null)
       actorRef.mailbox = createMailbox(actorRef)
 
@@ -145,7 +143,7 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
    * Only "private[akka] for the sake of intercepting calls, DO NOT CALL THIS OUTSIDE OF THE DISPATCHER,
    * and only call it under the dispatcher-guard, see "detach" for the only invocation
    */
-  private[akka] def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
+  protected[akka] def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
     if (uuids remove actorRef.uuid) {
       cleanUpMailboxFor(actorRef)
       actorRef.mailbox = null
@@ -206,7 +204,7 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
    * When the dispatcher no longer has any actors registered, how long will it wait until it shuts itself down, in Ms
    * defaulting to your akka configs "akka.actor.dispatcher-shutdown-timeout" or otherwise, 1 Second
    */
-  private[akka] def timeoutMs: Long = Dispatchers.DEFAULT_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT.toMillis
+  protected[akka] def timeoutMs: Long = Dispatchers.DEFAULT_SHUTDOWN_TIMEOUT.toMillis
 
   /**
    * After the call to this method, the dispatcher mustn't begin any new message processing for the specified reference
@@ -221,19 +219,19 @@ abstract class MessageDispatcher {
   /**
    *   Will be called when the dispatcher is to queue an invocation for execution
    */
-  private[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation)
+  protected[akka] def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation)
 
-  private[akka] def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation)
+  protected[akka] def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation)
 
   /**
    * Called one time every time an actor is attached to this dispatcher and this dispatcher was previously shutdown
    */
-  private[akka] def start()
+  protected[akka] def start(): Unit
 
   /**
    * Called one time every time an actor is detached from this dispatcher and this dispatcher has no actors left attached
    */
-  private[akka] def shutdown()
+  protected[akka] def shutdown(): Unit
 
   /**
    * Returns the size of the mailbox for the specified actor
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/PinnedDispatcher.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/PinnedDispatcher.scala
index 7d3e539c1c..b2922469a3 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/PinnedDispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/PinnedDispatcher.scala
@@ -30,17 +30,17 @@ class PinnedDispatcher(_actor: ActorRef, _name: String, _mailboxType: MailboxTyp
 
   def this() = this(Dispatchers.MAILBOX_TYPE)
 
-  private[akka] val owner = new AtomicReference[ActorRef](_actor)
+  protected[akka] val owner = new AtomicReference[ActorRef](_actor)
 
   //Relies on an external lock provided by MessageDispatcher.attach
-  private[akka] override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
+  protected[akka] override def register(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
     val actor = owner.get()
     if ((actor ne null) && actorRef != actor) throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot register to anyone but " + actor)
     owner.compareAndSet(null, actorRef) //Register if unregistered
     super.register(actorRef)
   }
   //Relies on an external lock provided by MessageDispatcher.detach
-  private[akka] override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
+  protected[akka] override def unregister(actorRef: LocalActorRef) = {
     super.unregister(actorRef)
     owner.compareAndSet(actorRef, null) //Unregister (prevent memory leak)
   }
diff --git a/akka-durable-mailboxes/akka-mailboxes-common/src/main/scala/akka/actor/mailbox/DurableDispatcher.scala b/akka-durable-mailboxes/akka-mailboxes-common/src/main/scala/akka/actor/mailbox/DurableDispatcher.scala
index 7262992759..dc5b0637b7 100644
--- a/akka-durable-mailboxes/akka-mailboxes-common/src/main/scala/akka/actor/mailbox/DurableDispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-durable-mailboxes/akka-mailboxes-common/src/main/scala/akka/actor/mailbox/DurableDispatcher.scala
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ case class DurableDispatcher(
 
   override def createMailbox(actorRef: LocalActorRef): AnyRef = _storage.createFor(actorRef)
 
-  private[akka] override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation): Unit = {
+  protected[akka] override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation): Unit = {
     if (invocation.channel.isInstanceOf[ActorPromise])
       throw new IllegalArgumentException("Durable mailboxes do not support Future-based messages from ?")
     super.dispatch(invocation)
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ case class DurablePinnedDispatcher(
 
   override def createMailbox(actorRef: LocalActorRef): AnyRef = _storage.createFor(actorRef)
 
-  private[akka] override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation): Unit = {
+  protected[akka] override def dispatch(invocation: MessageInvocation): Unit = {
     if (invocation.channel.isInstanceOf[ActorPromise])
       throw new IllegalArgumentException("Actor has a durable mailbox that does not support ?")
     super.dispatch(invocation)
diff --git a/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/CallingThreadDispatcher.scala b/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/CallingThreadDispatcher.scala
index 51fba43376..2657faf868 100644
--- a/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/CallingThreadDispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/CallingThreadDispatcher.scala
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ object CallingThreadDispatcher {
     queues = queues mapValues (_ filter (_.get ne null)) filter (!_._2.isEmpty)
   }
 
-  private[akka] def registerQueue(mbox: CallingThreadMailbox, q: NestingQueue): Unit = synchronized {
+  protected[akka] def registerQueue(mbox: CallingThreadMailbox, q: NestingQueue): Unit = synchronized {
     if (queues contains mbox) {
       val newSet = queues(mbox) + new WeakReference(q)
       queues += mbox -> newSet
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ object CallingThreadDispatcher {
    * given mailbox. When this method returns, the queue will be entered
    * (active).
    */
-  private[akka] def gatherFromAllInactiveQueues(mbox: CallingThreadMailbox, own: NestingQueue): Unit = synchronized {
+  protected[akka] def gatherFromAllInactiveQueues(mbox: CallingThreadMailbox, own: NestingQueue): Unit = synchronized {
     if (!own.isActive) own.enter
     if (queues contains mbox) {
       for {
@@ -107,15 +107,15 @@ object CallingThreadDispatcher {
 class CallingThreadDispatcher(val name: String = "calling-thread", val warnings: Boolean = true) extends MessageDispatcher {
   import CallingThreadDispatcher._
 
-  private[akka] override def createMailbox(actor: LocalActorRef) = new CallingThreadMailbox
+  protected[akka] override def createMailbox(actor: LocalActorRef) = new CallingThreadMailbox
 
   private def getMailbox(actor: LocalActorRef) = actor.mailbox.asInstanceOf[CallingThreadMailbox]
 
-  private[akka] override def start() {}
+  protected[akka] override def start() {}
 
-  private[akka] override def shutdown() {}
+  protected[akka] override def shutdown() {}
 
-  private[akka] override def timeoutMs = 100L
+  protected[akka] override def timeoutMs = 100L
 
   override def suspend(actor: LocalActorRef) {
     getMailbox(actor).suspended.switchOn
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class CallingThreadDispatcher(val name: String = "calling-thread", val warnings:
 
   override def mailboxIsEmpty(actorRef: LocalActorRef): Boolean = getMailbox(actorRef).queue.isEmpty
 
-  private[akka] override def dispatch(handle: MessageInvocation) {
+  protected[akka] override def dispatch(handle: MessageInvocation) {
     val mbox = getMailbox(handle.receiver)
     val queue = mbox.queue
     val execute = mbox.suspended.fold {
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class CallingThreadDispatcher(val name: String = "calling-thread", val warnings:
     if (execute) runQueue(mbox, queue)
   }
 
-  private[akka] override def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation) { invocation.run }
+  protected[akka] override def executeTask(invocation: TaskInvocation) { invocation.run }
 
   /*
    * This method must be called with this thread's queue, which must already