diff --git a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveDuplicatedReturnSelfDocblockRector.php b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveDuplicatedReturnSelfDocblockRector.php
index fba40a37222..ce857108361 100644
--- a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveDuplicatedReturnSelfDocblockRector.php
+++ b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/ClassMethod/RemoveDuplicatedReturnSelfDocblockRector.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 namespace Rector\DeadCode\Rector\ClassMethod;
 
+use PhpParser\Comment\Doc;
 use PhpParser\Node;
 use PhpParser\Node\Identifier;
 use PhpParser\Node\Name;
@@ -92,6 +93,11 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
             return null;
         }
 
+        // a duplicated @return tag can only live in a docblock; skip before resolving reflection
+        if (!$node->getDocComment() instanceof Doc) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         $classReflection = $this->reflectionResolver->resolveClassReflection($node);
         if (! $classReflection instanceof ClassReflection) {
             return null;