diff --git a/RF24Network.cpp b/RF24Network.cpp
index 623413a8..d4747129 100644
--- a/RF24Network.cpp
+++ b/RF24Network.cpp
@@ -208,13 +208,13 @@ uint8_t RF24Network::update(void)
                 uint8_t val = enqueue(header);
 
                 if (multicastRelay) {
-                    IF_SERIAL_DEBUG_ROUTING(printf_P(PSTR("%u: MAC FWD multicast frame from 0%o to level %u\n"), millis(), header->from_node, multicast_level + 1););
+                    IF_SERIAL_DEBUG_ROUTING(printf_P(PSTR("%u: MAC FWD multicast frame from 0%o to level %u\n"), millis(), header->from_node, _multicast_level + 1););
                     if ((node_address >> 3) != 0) {
                         // for all but the first level of nodes, those not directly connected to the master, we add the total delay per level
                         delayMicroseconds(600 * 4);
                     }
                     delayMicroseconds((node_address % 4) * 600);
-                    write(levelToAddress(multicast_level) << 3, USER_TX_MULTICAST);
+                    write(levelToAddress(_multicast_level) << 3, USER_TX_MULTICAST);
                 }
                 if (val == 2) { //External data received
                     return EXTERNAL_DATA_TYPE;
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ bool RF24Network::multicast(RF24NetworkHeader &header, const void *message, uint
     // Fill out the header
     header.to_node = NETWORK_MULTICAST_ADDRESS;
     header.from_node = node_address;
-    return write(header, message, len, levelToAddress(level > 3 ? multicast_level : level));
+    return write(header, message, len, levelToAddress(level > 3 ? _multicast_level : level));
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ void RF24Network::setup_address(void)
         #if defined(RF24NetworkMulticast)
         count++;
     }
-    multicast_level = count;
+    _multicast_level = count;
         #else
     }
         #endif
@@ -1101,7 +1101,7 @@ bool RF24Network::is_valid_address(uint16_t node)
 
 void RF24Network::multicastLevel(uint8_t level)
 {
-    multicast_level = level;
+    _multicast_level = level;
     radio.stopListening();
     radio.openReadingPipe(0, pipe_address(levelToAddress(level), 0));
     radio.startListening();
diff --git a/RF24Network.h b/RF24Network.h
index 1820e5f8..66b8d689 100644
--- a/RF24Network.h
+++ b/RF24Network.h
@@ -753,6 +753,13 @@ class RF24Network
      */
     uint8_t networkFlags;
 
+protected:
+
+    #if defined(RF24NetworkMulticast)
+    uint8_t _multicast_level; /* The current node's network level (used for multicast TX/RX-ing) */
+    #endif
+    uint16_t node_address; /** Logical node address of this unit, 1 .. UINT_MAX */
+
 private:
 
     /**
@@ -794,10 +801,11 @@ class RF24Network
     uint8_t enqueue(RF24NetworkHeader *header);
 
     /*
-     * Called from begin(), this sets up the radio to act as according to a logical node address.
+     * Called from begin(), this sets up the radio to act accordingly per the
+     * logical `_node_address` parameter passed to `begin()`.
      *
      * Based on the value of the private member `node_address`, the resulting confiuration affects
-     * private members `node_mask`, `parent_node`, `parent_pipe`, and `multicast_level`.
+     * private members `node_mask`, `parent_node`, `parent_pipe`, and `_multicast_level`.
      */
     void setup_address(void);
 
@@ -838,10 +846,6 @@ class RF24Network
 
     RF24 &radio; /** Underlying radio driver, provides link/physical layers */
 
-    #if defined(RF24NetworkMulticast)
-    uint8_t multicast_level; /* The current node's network level (used for multicast TX/RX-ing) */
-    #endif
-    uint16_t node_address; /** Logical node address of this unit, 1 .. UINT_MAX */
     uint8_t frame_size;  /* The outgoing frame's total size including the header info. Ranges [8, MAX_PAYLOAD_SIZE] */
     const static unsigned int max_frame_payload_size = MAX_FRAME_SIZE - sizeof(RF24NetworkHeader); /* always 24 bytes to compensate for the frame's header */