diff --git a/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Fixture/skip_protected_parent_construct.php.inc b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Fixture/skip_protected_parent_construct.php.inc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e86ca95a2b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Fixture/skip_protected_parent_construct.php.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Rector\Tests\DeadCode\Rector\ClassMethod\RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector\Fixture;
+
+use Rector\Tests\DeadCode\Rector\ClassMethod\RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector\Source\ProtectedConstructClass;
+
+final class SkipProtectedParentConstruct extends ProtectedConstructClass
+{
+    public function __construct($value)
+    {
+        parent::__construct($value);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Source/ProtectedConstructClass.php b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Source/ProtectedConstructClass.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..afd87e3c665
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector/Source/ProtectedConstructClass.php
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Rector\Tests\DeadCode\Rector\ClassMethod\RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector\Source;
+
+class ProtectedConstructClass
+{
+    protected function __construct($value)
+    {
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector.php b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector.php
index 34250539caa..bfa5189aed0 100644
--- a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector.php
+++ b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveParentDelegatingConstructorRector.php
@@ -113,6 +113,11 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?int
             return null;
         }
 
+        // removing public constructor would expose the narrower parent one
+        if (! $parentMethodReflection->isPublic()) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         $soleStmt = $node->stmts[0];
         $parentCallArgs = $this->matchParentConstructorCallArgs($soleStmt);
         if ($parentCallArgs === null) {