diff --git a/lib/classes/bootstrap.class.php b/lib/classes/bootstrap.class.php
index 7cfca0fa51..cf4429e49a 100644
--- a/lib/classes/bootstrap.class.php
+++ b/lib/classes/bootstrap.class.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ require_once __DIR__ . '/../Alchemy/Phrasea/Kernel.php';
 class bootstrap
 {
   
-  static $kernel;
+  protected static $kernel;
 
   public static function set_php_configuration()
   {
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ class bootstrap
     
     return static::$kernel;
   }
+  
+  /**
+   *
+   * @return Alchemy\Phrasea\Kernel 
+   */
+  public static function getKernel()
+  {
+    return static::$kernel;
+  }
 
   public static function register_autoloads()
   {