diff --git a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
index a7954676800b..130584b0fd02 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util/toml/mod.rs
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ fn read_manifest_from_str(
             if dep.is_optional() {
                 bail!("{name} is optional, but workspace dependencies cannot be optional",);
             }
+            if dep.is_public() {
+                bail!("{name} is public, but workspace dependencies cannot be public",);
+            }
         }
     }
     return if manifest.project.is_some() || manifest.package.is_some() {
@@ -1664,11 +1667,6 @@ fn inner_dependency_inherit_with<'a>(
                     }
                     _ => {}
                 }
-                // Inherit the workspace configuration for `public` unless
-                // it's explicitly specified for this dependency.
-                if let Some(public) = dependency.public {
-                    d.public = Some(public);
-                }
                 d.features = match (d.features.clone(), dependency.features.clone()) {
                     (Some(dep_feat), Some(inherit_feat)) => Some(
                         dep_feat
diff --git a/src/cargo/util_schemas/manifest.rs b/src/cargo/util_schemas/manifest.rs
index 90cc9a844990..588dca678cf3 100644
--- a/src/cargo/util_schemas/manifest.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/util_schemas/manifest.rs
@@ -534,6 +534,13 @@ impl TomlDependency {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn is_public(&self) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            TomlDependency::Detailed(d) => d.public.unwrap_or(false),
+            TomlDependency::Simple(..) => false,
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn unused_keys(&self) -> Vec<String> {
         match self {
             TomlDependency::Simple(_) => vec![],
diff --git a/src/doc/src/reference/unstable.md b/src/doc/src/reference/unstable.md
index b855ec1c3df8..813276cb6ef3 100644
--- a/src/doc/src/reference/unstable.md
+++ b/src/doc/src/reference/unstable.md
@@ -304,6 +304,9 @@ my_dep = { version = "1.2.3", public = true }
 private_dep = "2.0.0" # Will be 'private' by default
 ```
 
+Documentation updates:
+- For workspace's "The `dependencies` table" section, include `public` as an unsupported field for `workspace.dependencies`
+
 ## msrv-policy
 - [#9930](https://github.com/rust-lang/cargo/issues/9930) (MSRV-aware resolver)
 - [#10653](https://github.com/rust-lang/cargo/issues/10653) (MSRV-aware cargo-add)