diff --git a/src/CoreValidator.php b/src/CoreValidator.php
index 1360ce1..a86c709 100644
--- a/src/CoreValidator.php
+++ b/src/CoreValidator.php
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ public function unique($name, $params = [], $message = '', $when = null)
      * @return mixed
      * @throws \Exception
      */
-    private function getTextLength($length)
+    protected function getTextLength($length)
     {
         if (is_numeric($length)) {
             return $length;