diff --git a/config/pmd-test.xml b/config/pmd-test.xml
index 933b0cf0480..60246983e5b 100644
--- a/config/pmd-test.xml
+++ b/config/pmd-test.xml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
       a test that is expected behavior and we like it as it follow fail-fast and helps
       to avoid extra catch blocks -->
     <exclude name="SignatureDeclareThrowsException"/>
+    <!-- We need reflection in the tests to access some internal state. -->
+    <exclude name="AvoidAccessibilityAlteration"/>
     <!-- it madness to move all string values to common variables,
       it will be hard to read test code -->
     <exclude name="AvoidDuplicateLiterals"/>
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index cb8b325d1fa..82e60eab4bb 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
     <maven.site.plugin.version>3.9.1</maven.site.plugin.version>
     <maven.spotbugs.plugin.version>4.2.3</maven.spotbugs.plugin.version>
     <maven.pmd.plugin.version>3.15.0</maven.pmd.plugin.version>
-    <pmd.version>6.38.0</pmd.version>
+    <pmd.version>6.39.0</pmd.version>
     <maven.jacoco.plugin.version>0.8.7</maven.jacoco.plugin.version>
     <powermock.version>2.0.9</powermock.version>
     <saxon.version>10.6</saxon.version>