diff --git a/Sources/Views/MessageLabel.swift b/Sources/Views/MessageLabel.swift
index 4adb8f75..d451d486 100644
--- a/Sources/Views/MessageLabel.swift
+++ b/Sources/Views/MessageLabel.swift
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ open class MessageLabel: UILabel {
 
     }
 
-  internal func handleGesture(_ touchLocation: CGPoint) -> Bool {
+  open func handleGesture(_ touchLocation: CGPoint) -> Bool {
 
         guard let index = stringIndex(at: touchLocation) else { return false }