diff --git a/src/madness/world/thread.h b/src/madness/world/thread.h
index 836f20562db..eb15cb4b825 100644
--- a/src/madness/world/thread.h
+++ b/src/madness/world/thread.h
@@ -1122,7 +1122,12 @@ namespace madness {
       void operator=(const ThreadPool&) = delete;
       void operator=(ThreadPool&&) = delete;
 
-     private:
+      /// Get the number of threads from the environment.
+
+      /// \return The number of threads.
+      static int default_nthread();
+
+    private:
         friend class WorldTaskQueue;
 
         // Thread pool data
@@ -1147,11 +1152,6 @@ namespace madness {
         /// \param[in] nthread Description needed.
         ThreadPool(int nthread=-1);
 
-        /// Get the number of threads from the environment.
-
-        /// \return The number of threads.
-        int default_nthread();
-
        /// Run the next task.
 
         /// \todo Verify and complete this documentation.