diff --git a/include/morphio/soma.h b/include/morphio/soma.h
index 3e26c4b24..7ab0edf85 100644
--- a/include/morphio/soma.h
+++ b/include/morphio/soma.h
@@ -65,15 +65,10 @@ class Soma
      */
     floatType maxDistance() const;
 
-  private:
     explicit Soma(const std::shared_ptr<Property::Properties>&);
-    // TODO: find out why the following line does not work
-    // when friend class Morphology; is removed
-    // template <typename Property>
-    // friend const morphio::Soma morphio::Morphology::soma() const;
-    friend class Morphology;
-    friend class mut::Soma;
 
+  private:
+    friend class mut::Soma;
     std::shared_ptr<Property::Properties> _properties;
 };