diff --git a/lib/rspec/its/subject.rb b/lib/rspec/its/subject.rb
index 0efd63d..591277c 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/its/subject.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/its/subject.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def for(attribute, subject)
         else
           attribute_chain = attribute.to_s.split('.')
           attribute_chain.inject(subject) do |inner_subject, attr|
-            inner_subject.send(attr)
+            inner_subject.public_send(attr)
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/spec/rspec/its_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/its_spec.rb
index b286baf..069c4e7 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/its_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/its_spec.rb
@@ -393,4 +393,32 @@ def self.example(*_args)
 
     its(:will_still_work) { is_expected.to be true }
   end
+
+  context "with private method" do
+    subject(:klass) do
+      Class.new do
+        def name
+          private_name
+        end
+
+        private
+
+        def private_name
+          "John"
+        end
+      end.new
+    end
+
+    context "when referring indirectly" do
+      its(:name) { is_expected.to eq "John" }
+    end
+
+    context "when attempting to refer directly" do
+      context "it raises an error" do
+        its(:private_name) do
+          expect { is_expected.to eq("John") }.to raise_error(NoMethodError)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end