diff --git a/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/Filter/NodeFilterCriteriaGroup.php b/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/Filter/NodeFilterCriteriaGroup.php
index 4168e17daf5..d85741c329a 100644
--- a/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/Filter/NodeFilterCriteriaGroup.php
+++ b/Neos.ContentRepository.NodeAccess/Classes/Filter/NodeFilterCriteriaGroup.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     /**
      * @var array<int, NodeFilterCriteria>
      */
-    protected array $criteria;
+    private array $criteria;
 
     public function __construct(NodeFilterCriteria ...$criteria)
     {