diff --git a/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector/Fixture/skip_private_clone.php.inc b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector/Fixture/skip_private_clone.php.inc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0acf4250f95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector/Fixture/skip_private_clone.php.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Rector\Tests\DeadCode\Rector\ClassMethod\RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector\Fixture;
+
+class SkipPrivateClone
+{
+    private function __clone()
+    {
+    }
+}
diff --git a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector.php b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector.php
index eacb0e06a27..e838d7facf4 100644
--- a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector.php
+++ b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveEmptyClassMethodRector.php
@@ -162,6 +162,10 @@ private function shouldSkipClassMethod(Class_ $class, ClassMethod $classMethod):
             return $class->extends instanceof FullyQualified;
         }
 
+        if ($this->isName($classMethod, MethodName::CLONE)) {
+            return ! $classMethod->isPublic();
+        }
+
         return $this->isName($classMethod, MethodName::INVOKE);
     }