diff --git a/taglib/it/itproperties.h b/taglib/it/itproperties.h
index 79ebc383..b63b0c85 100644
--- a/taglib/it/itproperties.h
+++ b/taglib/it/itproperties.h
@@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ namespace TagLib {
       uchar  panningSeparation() const;
       uchar  pitchWheelDepth()   const;
 
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
     protected:
+#endif
+
       void setChannels(int channels);
 
       void setLengthInPatterns(ushort lengthInPatterns);
diff --git a/taglib/mod/modproperties.h b/taglib/mod/modproperties.h
index 8bf3ac5e..bdf1b752 100644
--- a/taglib/mod/modproperties.h
+++ b/taglib/mod/modproperties.h
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ namespace TagLib {
       uint  instrumentCount()  const;
       uchar lengthInPatterns() const;
 
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
     protected:
+#endif
       void setChannels(int channels);
 
       void setInstrumentCount(uint sampleCount);
diff --git a/taglib/s3m/s3mproperties.h b/taglib/s3m/s3mproperties.h
index 4be14508..820623ab 100644
--- a/taglib/s3m/s3mproperties.h
+++ b/taglib/s3m/s3mproperties.h
@@ -61,7 +61,9 @@ namespace TagLib {
       uchar  tempo()             const;
       uchar  bpmSpeed()          const;
 
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
     protected:
+#endif
       void setChannels(int channels);
 
       void setLengthInPatterns (ushort lengthInPatterns);
diff --git a/taglib/xm/xmproperties.h b/taglib/xm/xmproperties.h
index 97f93111..7ba193a2 100644
--- a/taglib/xm/xmproperties.h
+++ b/taglib/xm/xmproperties.h
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ namespace TagLib {
       ushort tempo()            const;
       ushort bpmSpeed()         const;
 
+#if !defined(_MSC_VER)
     protected:
+#endif
       void setChannels(int channels);
 
       void setLengthInPatterns(ushort lengthInPatterns);