diff --git a/vmime/base.hpp b/vmime/base.hpp
index 1b531fa9..f657b1e7 100644
--- a/vmime/base.hpp
+++ b/vmime/base.hpp
@@ -167,8 +167,10 @@ namespace vmime
 	  * Make this class a friend if you want to be able to use
 	  * vmime::create() with private/protected constructors.
 	  */
-	struct creator
+	class creator
 	{
+	public:
+
 		template <class T>
 		static ref <T> create() { return ref <T>::fromPtr(new T); }