diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/generate/t_generator.h b/compiler/cpp/src/generate/t_generator.h
index 24ac8401a..25b532b24 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/generate/t_generator.h
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/generate/t_generator.h
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ class t_generator {
     return out.str();
   }
 
+ public:
   /**
    * Get the true type behind a series of typedefs.
    */
diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/main.cc b/compiler/cpp/src/main.cc
index 892ae207c..175dbbe9c 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/main.cc
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/main.cc
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ bool validate_throws(t_struct* throws) {
   const vector<t_field*>& members = throws->get_members();
   vector<t_field*>::const_iterator m_iter;
   for (m_iter = members.begin(); m_iter != members.end(); ++m_iter) {
-    if (!(*m_iter)->get_type()->is_xception()) {
+    if (!t_generator::get_true_type((*m_iter)->get_type())->is_xception()) {
       return false;
     }
   }