diff --git a/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/TestActorRef.scala b/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/TestActorRef.scala
index 3cfbf0ce1b..d42cfcf165 100644
--- a/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/TestActorRef.scala
+++ b/akka-testkit/src/main/scala/akka/testkit/TestActorRef.scala
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class TestActorRef[T <: Actor](
     _supervisor.path / name,
     false) {
 
-  private case object InternalGetActor extends AutoReceivedMessage
+  import TestActorRef.InternalGetActor
 
   override def newActorCell(
     system: ActorSystemImpl,
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ class TestActorRef[T <: Actor](
 
 object TestActorRef {
 
+  private case object InternalGetActor extends AutoReceivedMessage
+
   private val number = new AtomicLong
   private[testkit] def randomName: String = {
     val l = number.getAndIncrement()
diff --git a/akka-testkit/src/test/java/akka/testkit/TestActorRefJavaSpec.java b/akka-testkit/src/test/java/akka/testkit/TestActorRefJavaSpec.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73350f819a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-testkit/src/test/java/akka/testkit/TestActorRefJavaSpec.java
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2009-2012 Typesafe Inc. <http://www.typesafe.com>
+ */
+
+package akka.testkit;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import akka.actor.Props;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+
+public class TestActorRefJavaSpec {
+
+  @Test
+  public void shouldBeAbleToUseApply() {
+  	//Just a dummy call to make sure it compiles
+    TestActorRef ref = TestActorRef.apply(new Props(), null);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file