diff --git a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultParagraphStyle.java b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultParagraphStyle.java
index 77679d2db7..61004d420b 100644
--- a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultParagraphStyle.java
+++ b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultParagraphStyle.java
@@ -32,7 +32,12 @@ public class XWPFDefaultParagraphStyle {
         this.ppr = ppr;
     }
 
-    protected CTPPrGeneral getPPr() {
+    /**
+     * Return the underlying XML bean.
+     * @return underlying CTPPrGeneral bean.
+     * @since POI 5.5.0
+     */
+    public CTPPrGeneral getPPr() {
         return ppr;
     }
 
diff --git a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultRunStyle.java b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultRunStyle.java
index 24c235d0e0..4595ff65cd 100644
--- a/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultRunStyle.java
+++ b/poi-ooxml/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/xwpf/usermodel/XWPFDefaultRunStyle.java
@@ -36,7 +36,12 @@ public class XWPFDefaultRunStyle {
         this.rpr = rpr;
     }
 
-    protected CTRPr getRPr() {
+    /**
+     * Return the underlying XML bean.
+     * @return underlying CTRPr bean.
+     * @since POI 5.5.0
+     */
+    public CTRPr getRPr() {
         return rpr;
     }