diff --git a/ebean-querybean/src/main/java/io/ebean/typequery/TQRootBean.java b/ebean-querybean/src/main/java/io/ebean/typequery/TQRootBean.java
index 113dd16ec..38bc4d52f 100644
--- a/ebean-querybean/src/main/java/io/ebean/typequery/TQRootBean.java
+++ b/ebean-querybean/src/main/java/io/ebean/typequery/TQRootBean.java
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ public abstract class TQRootBean<T, R> {
    */
   private final Query<T> query;
 
+  /**
+   * The root query bean instance. Used to provide fluid query construction.
+   */
+  private final R root;
+
   /**
    * The underlying expression lists held as a stack. Pushed and popped based on and/or (conjunction/disjunction).
    */
@@ -84,11 +89,6 @@ public abstract class TQRootBean<T, R> {
    */
   private boolean textMode;
 
-  /**
-   * The root query bean instance. Used to provide fluid query construction.
-   */
-  private R root;
-
   /**
    * Construct using the type of bean to query on and the default database.
    */
@@ -134,11 +134,13 @@ public abstract class TQRootBean<T, R> {
    */
   public TQRootBean(boolean aliasDummy) {
     this.query = null;
+    this.root = null;
   }
 
   /** Construct for FilterMany */
   protected TQRootBean(ExpressionList<T> filter) {
     this.query = null;
+    this.root = null;
     this.whereStack = new ArrayStack<>();
     whereStack.push(filter);
   }
@@ -150,13 +152,6 @@ public abstract class TQRootBean<T, R> {
     return ((SpiFetchGroupQuery<T>) query()).buildFetchGroup();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Sets the root query bean instance. Used to provide fluid query construction.
-   */
-  protected void setRoot(R root) {
-    this.root = root;
-  }
-
   /**
    * Return the underlying query.
    * <p>