diff --git a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/PyDebugRunner.java b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/PyDebugRunner.java
index 972fb2c2a87a..cfe48f3d80d5 100644
--- a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/PyDebugRunner.java
+++ b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/PyDebugRunner.java
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ public class PyDebugRunner implements ProgramRunner<RunnerSettings> {
     }
   }
 
-  private static int findAvailableSocketPort() {
+  public static int findAvailableSocketPort() {
     try {
       return NetUtils.findAvailableSocketPort();
     }