diff --git a/src/json.hpp b/src/json.hpp
index 63f48140..3c606366 100644
--- a/src/json.hpp
+++ b/src/json.hpp
@@ -3434,7 +3434,7 @@ class basic_json
     };
 
     /// a reverse random access iterator for the basic_json class
-    class reverse_iterator : private std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::iterator>
+    class reverse_iterator : public std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::iterator>
     {
       public:
         reverse_iterator(const typename
@@ -3456,7 +3456,7 @@ class basic_json
     };
 
     /// a const reverse random access iterator for the basic_json class
-    class const_reverse_iterator : private std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::const_iterator>
+    class const_reverse_iterator : public std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::const_iterator>
     {
       public:
         const_reverse_iterator(const typename
diff --git a/src/json.hpp.re2c b/src/json.hpp.re2c
index dbe03a27..976c1d80 100644
--- a/src/json.hpp.re2c
+++ b/src/json.hpp.re2c
@@ -3434,7 +3434,7 @@ class basic_json
     };
 
     /// a reverse random access iterator for the basic_json class
-    class reverse_iterator : private std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::iterator>
+    class reverse_iterator : public std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::iterator>
     {
       public:
         reverse_iterator(const typename
@@ -3456,7 +3456,7 @@ class basic_json
     };
 
     /// a const reverse random access iterator for the basic_json class
-    class const_reverse_iterator : private std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::const_iterator>
+    class const_reverse_iterator : public std::reverse_iterator<typename basic_json::const_iterator>
     {
       public:
         const_reverse_iterator(const typename