diff --git a/code/model/SiteTree.php b/code/model/SiteTree.php
index 06970cbe..451bcc4a 100755
--- a/code/model/SiteTree.php
+++ b/code/model/SiteTree.php
@@ -1628,7 +1628,7 @@ class SiteTree extends DataObject implements PermissionProvider,i18nEntityProvid
 		$this->_cache_statusFlags = null;
 	}
 	
-	protected function validate() {
+	public function validate() {
 		$result = parent::validate();
 
 		// Allowed children validation 
diff --git a/code/model/VirtualPage.php b/code/model/VirtualPage.php
index ac9a9151..acd361a9 100644
--- a/code/model/VirtualPage.php
+++ b/code/model/VirtualPage.php
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class VirtualPage extends Page {
 		}
 	}
 
-	protected function validate() {
+	public function validate() {
 		$result = parent::validate();
 
 		// "Can be root" validation