diff --git a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/PsiClassImplUtil.java b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/PsiClassImplUtil.java
index 9bf9b9fb0553..8642e2462d2f 100644
--- a/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/PsiClassImplUtil.java
+++ b/java/java-psi-impl/src/com/intellij/psi/impl/PsiClassImplUtil.java
@@ -285,7 +285,9 @@ public final class PsiClassImplUtil {
     PsiClass containingClass = aClass.getContainingClass();
     if (aClass.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PUBLIC) ||
         aClass.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PROTECTED)) {
-      return containingClass == null ? maximalUseScope : containingClass.getUseScope();
+      // If the containing class is not final, it's possible to expose nested class through public subclass of containing class 
+      return containingClass == null || !containingClass.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.FINAL) ? 
+             maximalUseScope : containingClass.getUseScope();
     }
     else if (aClass.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PRIVATE) || aClass instanceof PsiTypeParameter) {
       PsiClass topClass = PsiUtil.getTopLevelClass(aClass);
diff --git a/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/psi/search/ClassInheritorsTest.java b/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/psi/search/ClassInheritorsTest.java
index 3eee6e9bc342..3bb6e9a83f6d 100644
--- a/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/psi/search/ClassInheritorsTest.java
+++ b/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/psi/search/ClassInheritorsTest.java
@@ -114,6 +114,25 @@ public class ClassInheritorsTest extends JavaCodeInsightFixtureTestCase {
     assertSize(5, ClassInheritorsSearch.search(myFixture.findClass("one.Test.A")).findAll());
     assertSize(4, ClassInheritorsSearch.search(myFixture.findClass("one.Test.B")).findAll());
   }
+  
+  public void testClassExposedViaContainingClassSubclass() {
+    myFixture.addClass("""
+      package one;
+      interface OuterSuper {
+        interface Inner {}
+      }
+      """);
+    myFixture.addClass("""
+      package one;
+      public interface Child extends OuterSuper {
+      }
+      """);
+    myFixture.addClass("""
+      package two;
+      interface InnerChild extends one.Child.Inner {}
+      """);
+    assertSize(1, ClassInheritorsSearch.search(myFixture.findClass("one.OuterSuper.Inner")).findAll());
+  }
 
   public void testInheritorsInAnotherModuleWithNoDirectDependency() throws IOException {
     myFixture.addFileToProject("A.java", "class A {}");