diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
index 6414e8d397..febd84f036 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_basics/mpe/juce_MPESynthesiserVoice.h
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ public:
     */
     double getSampleRate() const noexcept                 { return currentSampleRate; }
 
+    /** This will be set to an incrementing counter value in MPESynthesiser::startVoice()
+        and can be used to determine the order in which voices started.
+    */
+    uint32 noteOnTime = 0;
+
 protected:
     //==============================================================================
     /** Resets the state of this voice after a sound has finished playing.
@@ -180,8 +185,6 @@ private:
     //==============================================================================
     friend class MPESynthesiser;
 
-    uint32 noteOnTime = 0;
-
     JUCE_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR (MPESynthesiserVoice)
 };