diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
index a7f02c0553..93d666d223 100644
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalChannel.java
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public class LocalChannel extends AbstractChannel {
         super(null);
     }
 
-    LocalChannel(LocalServerChannel parent, LocalChannel peer) {
+    protected LocalChannel(LocalServerChannel parent, LocalChannel peer) {
         super(parent);
         this.peer = peer;
         localAddress = parent.localAddress();
diff --git a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalServerChannel.java b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalServerChannel.java
index f798e56e05..4d82f1ec5a 100644
--- a/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalServerChannel.java
+++ b/transport/src/main/java/io/netty/channel/local/LocalServerChannel.java
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ public class LocalServerChannel extends AbstractServerChannel {
     }
 
     LocalChannel serve(final LocalChannel peer) {
-        final LocalChannel child = new LocalChannel(this, peer);
+        final LocalChannel child = newLocalChannel(peer);
         if (eventLoop().inEventLoop()) {
             serve0(child);
         } else {
@@ -147,6 +147,14 @@ public class LocalServerChannel extends AbstractServerChannel {
         return child;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A factory method for {@link LocalChannel}s. Users may override it
+     * to create custom instances of {@link LocalChannel}s.
+     */
+    protected LocalChannel newLocalChannel(LocalChannel peer) {
+        return new LocalChannel(this, peer);
+    }
+
     private void serve0(final LocalChannel child) {
         inboundBuffer.add(child);
         if (acceptInProgress) {