diff --git a/mitmproxy/optmanager.py b/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
index 7d8ca9143..06e696c01 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class OptManager:
         mutation doesn't change the option state inadvertently.
     """
     def __init__(self):
-        self._deferred: typing.Dict[str, str] = {}
+        self.deferred: typing.Dict[str, str] = {}
         self.changed = blinker.Signal()
         self.errored = blinker.Signal()
         # Options must be the last attribute here - after that, we raise an
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ class OptManager:
 
     def update_defer(self, **kwargs):
         unknown = self.update_known(**kwargs)
-        self._deferred.update(unknown)
+        self.deferred.update(unknown)
 
     def update(self, **kwargs):
         u = self.update_known(**kwargs)
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class OptManager:
             else:
                 unknown[optname] = optval
         if defer:
-            self._deferred.update(unknown)
+            self.deferred.update(unknown)
         elif unknown:
             raise exceptions.OptionsError("Unknown options: %s" % ", ".join(unknown.keys()))
         self.update(**vals)
@@ -318,12 +318,12 @@ class OptManager:
             have since been added.
         """
         update = {}
-        for optname, optval in self._deferred.items():
+        for optname, optval in self.deferred.items():
             if optname in self._options:
                 update[optname] = self.parse_setval(self._options[optname], optval)
         self.update(**update)
         for k in update.keys():
-            del self._deferred[k]
+            del self.deferred[k]
 
     def parse_setval(self, o: _Option, optstr: typing.Optional[str]) -> typing.Any:
         """
diff --git a/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py b/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
index 2d408b6e5..1e4f09d47 100644
--- a/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
+++ b/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
@@ -270,12 +270,12 @@ def test_serialize():
     t = "# a comment"
     optmanager.load(o2, t)
     optmanager.load(o2, "foobar: '123'")
-    assert o2._deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
+    assert o2.deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
 
     t = ""
     optmanager.load(o2, t)
     optmanager.load(o2, "foobar: '123'")
-    assert o2._deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
+    assert o2.deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
 
 
 def test_serialize_defaults():
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def test_saving(tmpdir):
     with open(dst, 'a') as f:
         f.write("foobar: '123'")
     optmanager.load_paths(o, dst)
-    assert o._deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
+    assert o.deferred == {"foobar": "123"}
 
     with open(dst, 'a') as f:
         f.write("'''")
@@ -429,13 +429,13 @@ def test_set():
     assert opts.seqstr == []
 
     with pytest.raises(exceptions.OptionsError):
-        opts.set("deferred=wobble")
+        opts.set("deferredoption=wobble")
 
-    opts.set("deferred=wobble", defer=True)
-    assert "deferred" in opts._deferred
+    opts.set("deferredoption=wobble", defer=True)
+    assert "deferredoption" in opts.deferred
     opts.process_deferred()
-    assert "deferred" in opts._deferred
-    opts.add_option("deferred", str, "default", "help")
+    assert "deferredoption" in opts.deferred
+    opts.add_option("deferredoption", str, "default", "help")
     opts.process_deferred()
-    assert "deferred" not in opts._deferred
-    assert opts.deferred == "wobble"
+    assert "deferredoption" not in opts.deferred
+    assert opts.deferredoption == "wobble"