diff --git a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockareawidget.h b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockareawidget.h
index fab47e94769..4653f144672 100644
--- a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockareawidget.h
+++ b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockareawidget.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ private:
     friend class DockContainerWidget;
     friend class DockContainerWidgetPrivate;
     friend class DockWidgetTab;
-    friend struct DockWidgetPrivate;
+    friend class DockWidgetPrivate;
     friend class DockWidget;
     friend struct DockManagerPrivate;
     friend class DockManager;
diff --git a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.cpp b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.cpp
index 5b4ff87265d..900a74bc266 100644
--- a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.cpp
@@ -63,8 +63,9 @@ namespace ADS
     /**
      * Private data class of DockWidget class (pimpl)
      */
-    struct DockWidgetPrivate
+    class DockWidgetPrivate
     {
+    public:
         DockWidget *q = nullptr;
         QBoxLayout *m_layout = nullptr;
         QWidget *m_widget = nullptr;
@@ -114,8 +115,7 @@ namespace ADS
          * Setup the main scroll area
          */
         void setupScrollArea();
-    };
-    // struct DockWidgetPrivate
+    }; // class DockWidgetPrivate
 
     DockWidgetPrivate::DockWidgetPrivate(DockWidget *parent)
         : q(parent)
diff --git a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.h b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.h
index 56fbe4431f0..a55b8ee0ded 100644
--- a/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.h
+++ b/src/libs/advanceddockingsystem/dockwidget.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ QT_END_NAMESPACE
 
 namespace ADS {
 
-struct DockWidgetPrivate;
+class DockWidgetPrivate;
 class DockWidgetTab;
 class DockManager;
 class DockContainerWidget;
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class ADS_EXPORT DockWidget : public QFrame
     Q_OBJECT
 private:
     DockWidgetPrivate *d; ///< private data (pimpl)
-    friend struct DockWidgetPrivate;
+    friend class DockWidgetPrivate;
 
     /**
      * Adjusts the toolbar icon sizes according to the floating state