diff --git a/java/codeserver/highlighting/src/com/intellij/java/codeserver/highlighting/ExpressionChecker.java b/java/codeserver/highlighting/src/com/intellij/java/codeserver/highlighting/ExpressionChecker.java
index 2013e2d0d7f1..97f8a8b6efd1 100644
--- a/java/codeserver/highlighting/src/com/intellij/java/codeserver/highlighting/ExpressionChecker.java
+++ b/java/codeserver/highlighting/src/com/intellij/java/codeserver/highlighting/ExpressionChecker.java
@@ -1668,9 +1668,12 @@ final class ExpressionChecker {
     PsiClass parentClass = constructor.getContainingClass();
     if (parentClass == null) return;
 
-    // references to private methods from the outer class are not calls to super methods
+    // references to private methods and fields from the outer class are not calls to super methods
     // even if the outer class is the superclass
-    if (resolved instanceof PsiMember member && member.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PRIVATE) && referencedClass != parentClass) return;
+    if (resolved instanceof PsiMember member && member.hasModifierProperty(PsiModifier.PRIVATE) && 
+        referencedClass != parentClass && !(member instanceof PsiClass)) {
+      return;
+    }
     // field or method should be declared in this class or super
     if (!InheritanceUtil.isInheritorOrSelf(parentClass, referencedClass, true)) return;
     // and point to our instance
diff --git a/java/java-tests/testData/codeInsight/daemonCodeAnalyzer/advHighlighting8/ReferenceToPrivateClass.java b/java/java-tests/testData/codeInsight/daemonCodeAnalyzer/advHighlighting8/ReferenceToPrivateClass.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a6454e0e243a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/java-tests/testData/codeInsight/daemonCodeAnalyzer/advHighlighting8/ReferenceToPrivateClass.java
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+class A {
+  A(C c) {}
+
+  static class B extends A {
+    B() {
+      super(new <error descr="Cannot reference 'C' before superclass constructor is called">C</error>());
+    }
+
+    B(int x) {
+      super(<error descr="Non-static method 'getC()' cannot be referenced from a static context">getC</error>());
+    }
+
+    B(double x) {
+      super(<error descr="Non-static field 'c' cannot be referenced from a static context">c</error>);
+    }
+  }
+
+  class B1 extends A {
+    B1() {
+      super(new <error descr="Cannot reference 'C' before superclass constructor is called">C</error>());
+    }
+
+    B1(int x) {
+      super(getC());
+    }
+
+    B1(double x) {
+      super(c);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private C getC() {
+    return new C();
+  }
+
+  private C c = new C();
+
+  private class C {}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/codeInsight/daemon/LightAdvHighlightingJdk8Test.java b/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/codeInsight/daemon/LightAdvHighlightingJdk8Test.java
index db01f3f2290c..516f516e17c9 100644
--- a/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/codeInsight/daemon/LightAdvHighlightingJdk8Test.java
+++ b/java/java-tests/testSrc/com/intellij/java/codeInsight/daemon/LightAdvHighlightingJdk8Test.java
@@ -49,4 +49,5 @@ public class LightAdvHighlightingJdk8Test extends LightDaemonAnalyzerTestCase {
     doTest(true, true); 
   }
   public void testCyclicInheritanceOfTypeAnnotation() { doTest(true, true); }
+  public void testReferenceToPrivateClass() { doTest(true, true); }
 }
\ No newline at end of file