diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/BUILD.bazel b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..15c7d9064e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+load("@com_google_protobuf//bazel:proto_library.bzl", "proto_library")
+load("@io_bazel_rules_go//go:def.bzl", "go_test")
+load("@io_bazel_rules_go//proto:def.bzl", "go_proto_library")
+
+proto_library(
+    name = "dog_proto",
+    srcs = ["dog.proto"],
+    deps = ["//tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir:dog_collar_proto"],
+)
+
+go_proto_library(
+    name = "dog_go_proto",
+    importpath = "github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/dog_go_proto",
+    proto = ":dog_proto",
+    deps = ["//tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir:dog_collar_go_proto"],
+)
+
+go_test(
+    name = "import_public_test",
+    srcs = ["import_public_test.go"],
+    deps = [
+        ":dog_go_proto",
+    ],
+)
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/dog.proto b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/dog.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fed67dda16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/dog.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package foo.bar;
+
+import "tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/dog_collar.proto";
+
+message Dog {
+    string name = 1;
+    DogCollar collar = 2;
+}
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/import_public_test.go b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/import_public_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aace7cb2fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/import_public_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/* Copyright 2025 The Bazel Authors. All rights reserved.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package import_public_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	dog "github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/dog"
+)
+
+func pet(interface{}) {}
+
+func TestDog(t *testing.T) {
+	// just make sure type exists
+	pet(dog.Dog{Name: "fido"})
+}
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/BUILD.bazel b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbc567d558
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+load("@com_google_protobuf//bazel:proto_library.bzl", "proto_library")
+load("@io_bazel_rules_go//proto:def.bzl", "go_proto_library")
+
+proto_library(
+    name = "dog_collar_proto",
+    srcs = ["dog_collar.proto"],
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
+
+go_proto_library(
+    name = "dog_collar_go_proto",
+    importpath = "github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/dog_collar_go_proto",
+    proto = ":dog_collar_proto",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/dog_collar.proto b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/dog_collar.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0c1ada95d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/dog_collar.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package foo.bar;
+
+message DogCollar {
+    string name = 1;
+    string phone_number = 2;
+}
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/BUILD.bazel b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bbf6c8edb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+load("@com_google_protobuf//bazel:proto_library.bzl", "proto_library")
+load("@io_bazel_rules_go//proto:def.bzl", "go_proto_library")
+
+proto_library(
+    name = "dog_collar_proto",
+    srcs = ["dog_collar.proto"],
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+    exports = ["//tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir:dog_collar_proto"],
+    deps = ["//tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir:dog_collar_proto"],
+)
+
+go_proto_library(
+    name = "dog_collar_go_proto",
+    importpath = "github.com/bazelbuild/rules_go/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/dog_collar_go_proto",
+    proto = ":dog_collar_proto",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+    deps = ["//tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir:dog_collar_go_proto"],
+)
diff --git a/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/dog_collar.proto b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/dog_collar.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..967c6aaadd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/old_dir/dog_collar.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package foo.bar;
+
+import public "tests/core/go_proto_library_import_public/new_dir/dog_collar.proto";