diff --git a/queries/highlights.scm b/queries/highlights.scm
index 3f308db0..61d889f8 100644
--- a/queries/highlights.scm
+++ b/queries/highlights.scm
@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@
 ] @keyword
 
 ; `private`, `protected` and `public` are `Module` instance methods, not
-; keywords: they can be called with arguments, passed a `def`, or shadowed.
+; keywords. Bare, they parse as a plain identifier; `#is-not? local` keeps a
+; local variable that shadows one of them from being highlighted as a call.
 ((identifier) @function.method.builtin
- (#match? @function.method.builtin "^(private|protected|public)$"))
+ (#match? @function.method.builtin "^(private|protected|public)$")
+ (#is-not? local))
 
 (constant) @constructor
 
@@ -50,6 +52,15 @@
 ((identifier) @function.method.builtin
  (#eq? @function.method.builtin "require"))
 
+; The argument forms, such as `private :foo` and `private def bar; end`, have to
+; come after the general call pattern above to take precedence over it.
+; `!receiver` keeps an unrelated method that happens to share the name, as in
+; `acl.public`, highlighted as an ordinary call.
+((call
+   !receiver
+   method: (identifier) @function.method.builtin)
+ (#match? @function.method.builtin "^(private|protected|public)$"))
+
 ; Function definitions
 
 (alias (identifier) @function.method)
diff --git a/test/highlight/classes.rb b/test/highlight/classes.rb
index 9139d903..ca34f0fd 100644
--- a/test/highlight/classes.rb
+++ b/test/highlight/classes.rb
@@ -29,5 +29,24 @@ def init(id)
 
   protected
   # ^ function.method.builtin
+
+  private :with_symbol
+  # <- function.method.builtin
+
+  private def with_def; end
+  # <- function.method.builtin
+
+  def shadowed
+    private = 1
+    # <- variable
+    private
+    # <- variable
+    private
+  end
+
+  def unrelated(acl)
+    acl.public
+    #   ^ function.method
+  end
 end
 # <- keyword