diff --git a/mlir/include/mlir/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.h b/mlir/include/mlir/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.h
--- a/mlir/include/mlir/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.h
+++ b/mlir/include/mlir/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.h
@@ -93,16 +93,11 @@
     propagateIfChanged(lhs, lhs->join(rhs));
   }
 
-private:
   /// Visit an operation. If this is a call operation or region control-flow
   /// operation, then the state after the execution of the operation is set by
   /// control-flow or the callgraph. Otherwise, this function invokes the
   /// operation transfer function.
-  void visitOperation(Operation *op);
-
-  /// Visit a block. The state at the start of the block is propagated from
-  /// control-flow predecessors or callsites
-  void visitBlock(Block *block);
+  virtual void processOperation(Operation *op);
 
   /// Visit a program point within a region branch operation with predecessors
   /// in it. This can either be an entry block of one of the regions of the
@@ -110,6 +105,11 @@
   void visitRegionBranchOperation(ProgramPoint point,
                                   RegionBranchOpInterface branch,
                                   AbstractDenseLattice *after);
+
+private:
+  /// Visit a block. The state at the start of the block is propagated from
+  /// control-flow predecessors or callsites
+  void visitBlock(Block *block);
 };
 
 //===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@
     setToEntryState(static_cast<LatticeT *>(lattice));
   }
 
-private:
   /// Type-erased wrappers that convert the abstract dense lattice to a derived
   /// lattice and invoke the virtual hooks operating on the derived lattice.
   void visitOperationImpl(Operation *op, const AbstractDenseLattice &before,
diff --git a/mlir/lib/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.cpp b/mlir/lib/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.cpp
--- a/mlir/lib/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.cpp
+++ b/mlir/lib/Analysis/DataFlow/DenseAnalysis.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 LogicalResult AbstractDenseDataFlowAnalysis::initialize(Operation *top) {
   // Visit every operation and block.
-  visitOperation(top);
+  processOperation(top);
   for (Region &region : top->getRegions()) {
     for (Block &block : region) {
       visitBlock(&block);
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 
 LogicalResult AbstractDenseDataFlowAnalysis::visit(ProgramPoint point) {
   if (auto *op = point.dyn_cast<Operation *>())
-    visitOperation(op);
+    processOperation(op);
   else if (auto *block = point.dyn_cast<Block *>())
     visitBlock(block);
   else
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
   return success();
 }
 
-void AbstractDenseDataFlowAnalysis::visitOperation(Operation *op) {
+void AbstractDenseDataFlowAnalysis::processOperation(Operation *op) {
   // If the containing block is not executable, bail out.
   if (!getOrCreateFor<Executable>(op, op->getBlock())->isLive())
     return;