diff --git a/lang/java/compiler/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/SpecificCompiler.java b/lang/java/compiler/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/SpecificCompiler.java
index d1b594f79f5..295949313d1 100644
--- a/lang/java/compiler/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/SpecificCompiler.java
+++ b/lang/java/compiler/src/main/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/SpecificCompiler.java
@@ -406,7 +406,8 @@ OutputFile compileInterface(Protocol protocol) {
     return outputFile;
   }
 
-  private String makePath(String name, String space) {
+  //package private for testing purposes
+  String makePath(String name, String space) {
     if (space == null || space.isEmpty()) {
       return name + suffix;
     } else {
diff --git a/lang/java/ipc/src/test/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/TestSpecificCompiler.java b/lang/java/ipc/src/test/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/TestSpecificCompiler.java
index 7710be8ac21..28aa9981a34 100644
--- a/lang/java/ipc/src/test/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/TestSpecificCompiler.java
+++ b/lang/java/ipc/src/test/java/org/apache/avro/compiler/specific/TestSpecificCompiler.java
@@ -79,8 +79,9 @@ public void testEsc() {
 
   @Test
   public void testMakePath() {
-    assertEquals("foo/bar/Baz.java".replace("/", File.separator), SpecificCompiler.makePath("Baz", "foo.bar"));
-    assertEquals("baz.java", SpecificCompiler.makePath("baz", ""));
+    SpecificCompiler compiler = new SpecificCompiler();
+    assertEquals("foo/bar/Baz.java".replace("/", File.separator), compiler.makePath("Baz", "foo.bar"));
+    assertEquals("baz.java", compiler.makePath("baz", ""));
   }
 
   @Test