diff --git a/src/libCom/timer/epicsTimer.h b/src/libCom/timer/epicsTimer.h
index 2b666ef3d..311072d1f 100644
--- a/src/libCom/timer/epicsTimer.h
+++ b/src/libCom/timer/epicsTimer.h
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ public:
     virtual expireInfo getExpireInfo () const = 0;
     double getExpireDelay ();
     virtual void show ( unsigned int level ) const = 0;
-private:
-    ~epicsTimer (); // intentionally not implemented ( see destroy )
+protected:
+    virtual ~epicsTimer (); 
 };
 
 class epicsTimerQueue {
diff --git a/src/libCom/timer/timerPrivate.h b/src/libCom/timer/timerPrivate.h
index 193eae167..b3ef5c8bf 100644
--- a/src/libCom/timer/timerPrivate.h
+++ b/src/libCom/timer/timerPrivate.h
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ public:
     void destroyTimerForC ( epicsTimerForC & );
 protected:
     timer ( class timerQueue & );
+    ~timer (); 
 private:
-    ~timer (); // intentionally not implemented ( see destroy )
     enum state { statePending = 45, stateLimbo = 78 };
     epicsTime exp; // experation time 
     state curState; // current state 
@@ -67,11 +67,12 @@ struct epicsTimerForC : public epicsTimerNotify, public timer {
 public:
     epicsTimerForC ( timerQueue &, epicsTimerCallback, void *pPrivateIn );
     void destroy ();
+protected:
+    ~epicsTimerForC (); // intentionally not implemented ( see destroy )
 private:
     epicsTimerCallback pCallBack;
     void * pPrivate;
     expireStatus expire ( const epicsTime & currentTime );
-    ~epicsTimerForC (); // intentionally not implemented ( see destroy )
 };
 
 class timerQueue {