diff --git a/libuavcan/include/uavcan/protocol/node_status_monitor.hpp b/libuavcan/include/uavcan/protocol/node_status_monitor.hpp
index cf0dd7fd9b..60350ef6ff 100644
--- a/libuavcan/include/uavcan/protocol/node_status_monitor.hpp
+++ b/libuavcan/include/uavcan/protocol/node_status_monitor.hpp
@@ -110,6 +110,10 @@ private:
         handleNodeStatusMessage(msg);
     }
 
+protected:
+    /**
+     * This event will be invoked at 2 Hz rate. It can be used by derived classes as well.
+     */
     virtual void handleTimerEvent(const TimerEvent&)
     {
         const int OfflineTimeoutMs100 = protocol::NodeStatus::OFFLINE_TIMEOUT_MS / 100;
@@ -134,7 +138,6 @@ private:
         }
     }
 
-protected:
     /**
      * Called when a node becomes online, changes status or goes offline.
      * Refer to uavcan.protocol.NodeStatus for the offline timeout value.