diff --git a/base/changes.txt b/base/changes.txt
index c8434e2b0..c4b71ccdf 100644
--- a/base/changes.txt
+++ b/base/changes.txt
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ not part of the distribution.
 	Adapt two argument tagging sockets to preserve second argument when the socket is disabled.
 	Add expandable versions of tagging socket use commands.
 	* ltsocket.dtx
-	Add expandable versions of \socket_use_expandable:n
+	Add expandable versions of \socket_use_expandable:n.
+	Make internal plug definitions non-protected to allow expandable use.
 
 2024-10-26  Yukai Chou <muzimuzhi@gmail.com>
 	* ltcounts.dtx (subsection{Environment Counter Macros}):
diff --git a/base/ltsockets.dtx b/base/ltsockets.dtx
index ccedec867..ffeef1e12 100644
--- a/base/ltsockets.dtx
+++ b/base/ltsockets.dtx
@@ -836,6 +836,7 @@
 %  
 %  
 %  \begin{macro}{\socket_new_plug:nnn,\socket_set_plug:nnn}
+%    \changes{v0.9b}{2024/10/27}{Make plug definition non-protected}
 %    
 %    Declaring a code for a socket is just making a definition, taking
 %    the number of arguments from the saved int.
@@ -850,7 +851,7 @@
           {
             \cs_generate_from_arg_count:cNnn
               { @@_#1_plug_#2:w }
-              \cs_new_protected:Npn
+              \cs_new:Npn
               { \int_use:c { c_@@_#1_args_int } }
               {#3}
 %    \end{macrocode}
@@ -878,7 +879,7 @@
           {
             \cs_generate_from_arg_count:cNnn
               { @@_#1_plug_#2:w }
-              \cs_set_protected:Npn
+              \cs_set:Npn
               { \int_use:c { c_@@_#1_args_int } }
               {#3}
             \@@_debug_term:n