diff --git a/lib/checkclass.cpp b/lib/checkclass.cpp
index 3b10fa31b..8a6d06c27 100644
--- a/lib/checkclass.cpp
+++ b/lib/checkclass.cpp
@@ -1117,7 +1117,7 @@ void CheckClass::operatorEq()
         std::list<Function>::const_iterator func;
 
         for (func = scope->functionList.begin(); func != scope->functionList.end(); ++func) {
-            if (func->type == Function::eOperatorEqual && func->access != Private) {
+            if (func->type == Function::eOperatorEqual && func->access == Public) {
                 // skip "deleted" functions - cannot be called anyway
                 if (func->isDelete)
                     continue;
diff --git a/test/testclass.cpp b/test/testclass.cpp
index 09b24ddfc..b8a594b0b 100644
--- a/test/testclass.cpp
+++ b/test/testclass.cpp
@@ -572,6 +572,13 @@ private:
                        "};");
         ASSERT_EQUALS("", errout.str());
 
+        checkOpertorEq("class A\n"
+                       "{\n"
+                       "protected:\n"
+                       "    void operator=(const A&);\n"
+                       "};");
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("", errout.str());
+
         checkOpertorEq("class A\n"
                        "{\n"
                        "private:\n"