diff --git a/docs/pages/release_notes.md b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
index ace594edfe..58e00a9029 100644
--- a/docs/pages/release_notes.md
+++ b/docs/pages/release_notes.md
@@ -314,6 +314,8 @@ package or made (package) private and are _not accessible_ anymore.
     * Method `loadRuleSetsWithoutException(java.util.List)` is now package private.
   * {%jdoc !!core::lang.rule.RuleSetLoadException %}
     * All constructors are package private now.
+  * {%jdoc !!core::lang.ast.LexException %} - the constructor `LexException(boolean, String, int, int, String, char)` is now package private.
+    It is only used by JavaCC-generated token managers.
 * pmd-ant
   * {%jdoc !!ant::ant.Formatter %}
     * Method `getRenderer()` has been removed.
diff --git a/javacc-wrapper.xml b/javacc-wrapper.xml
index ece4307099..306c0601be 100644
--- a/javacc-wrapper.xml
+++ b/javacc-wrapper.xml
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
         <!-- Use own LexException instead of JavaCC's TokenMgrError -->
         <replaceregexp>
             <regexp pattern='throw new TokenMgrError\(EOFSeen' />
-            <substitution expression='throw new net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.LexException(EOFSeen' />
+            <substitution expression='throw net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast.InternalApiBridge.newLexException(EOFSeen' />
             <file name="${tokenmgr-file}" />
         </replaceregexp>
 
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/InternalApiBridge.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/InternalApiBridge.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..460ae0dd37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/InternalApiBridge.java
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * BSD-style license; for more info see http://pmd.sourceforge.net/license.html
+ */
+
+package net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.ast;
+
+import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
+
+/**
+ * Internal API.
+ *
+ * <p>Acts as a bridge between outer parts of PMD and the restricted access
+ * internal API of this package.
+ *
+ * <p><b>None of this is published API, and compatibility can be broken anytime!</b>
+ * Use this only at your own risk.
+ *
+ * @apiNote Internal API
+ */
+@InternalApi
+public final class InternalApiBridge {
+    private InternalApiBridge() {}
+
+    public static LexException newLexException(boolean eofSeen, String lexStateName, int errorLine, int errorColumn, String errorAfter, char curChar) {
+        return new LexException(eofSeen, lexStateName, errorLine, errorColumn, errorAfter, curChar);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/LexException.java b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/LexException.java
index 3aea6b656d..6331d798c9 100644
--- a/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/LexException.java
+++ b/pmd-core/src/main/java/net/sourceforge/pmd/lang/ast/LexException.java
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import static java.lang.Math.max;
 import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.NonNull;
 import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.Nullable;
 
-import net.sourceforge.pmd.annotation.InternalApi;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.document.FileId;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.lang.document.FileLocation;
 import net.sourceforge.pmd.util.StringUtil;
@@ -44,9 +43,10 @@ public final class LexException extends FileAnalysisException {
 
     /**
      * Constructor called by JavaCC.
+     *
+     * @apiNote Internal API.
      */
-    @InternalApi
-    public LexException(boolean eofSeen, String lexStateName, int errorLine, int errorColumn, String errorAfter, char curChar) {
+    LexException(boolean eofSeen, String lexStateName, int errorLine, int errorColumn, String errorAfter, char curChar) {
         super(makeReason(eofSeen, lexStateName, errorAfter, curChar));
         line = max(errorLine, 1);
         column = max(errorColumn, 1);