diff --git a/lib/checkclass.cpp b/lib/checkclass.cpp
index 2eae9e589..b74935714 100644
--- a/lib/checkclass.cpp
+++ b/lib/checkclass.cpp
@@ -1643,7 +1643,7 @@ void CheckClass::virtualDestructor()
     // * derived class has non-empty destructor (only c++03, in c++11 it's UB see paragraph 3 in [expr.delete])
     // * base class is deleted
     // unless inconclusive in which case:
-    // * base class has virtual members but doesn't have virtual destructor
+    // * A class with any virtual functions should have a destructor that is either public and virtual or protected
     const bool printInconclusive = mSettings->inconclusive;
 
     std::list<const Function *> inconclusiveErrors;
@@ -1654,11 +1654,14 @@ void CheckClass::virtualDestructor()
         if (scope->definedType->derivedFrom.empty()) {
             if (printInconclusive) {
                 const Function *destructor = scope->getDestructor();
-                if (destructor && !destructor->hasVirtualSpecifier()) {
-                    for (const Function &func : scope->functionList) {
-                        if (func.hasVirtualSpecifier()) {
-                            inconclusiveErrors.push_back(destructor);
-                            break;
+                if (destructor) {
+                    if(!((destructor->hasVirtualSpecifier() && destructor->access == AccessControl::Public) ||
+                        (destructor->access == AccessControl::Protected))) {
+                        for (const Function &func : scope->functionList) {
+                            if (func.hasVirtualSpecifier()) {
+                                inconclusiveErrors.push_back(destructor);
+                                break;
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/test/testclass.cpp b/test/testclass.cpp
index 769ca6456..75eece4de 100644
--- a/test/testclass.cpp
+++ b/test/testclass.cpp
@@ -2699,6 +2699,15 @@ private:
                                "    delete base;\n"
                                "}\n", true);
         ASSERT_EQUALS("[test.cpp:3]: (error) Class 'Base' which is inherited by class 'Derived' does not have a virtual destructor.\n", errout.str());
+        
+        // class Base destructor is not virtual but protected -> no error
+        checkVirtualDestructor("class Base {\n"
+                               "public:\n"
+                               "    virtual void foo(){}\n"
+                               "protected:\n"
+                               "    ~Base(){}\n"
+                               "};\n", true);
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("", errout.str());
     }
 
     void checkNoMemset(const char code[]) {