diff --git a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/Identical/BooleanNotIdenticalToNotIdenticalRector.php b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/Identical/BooleanNotIdenticalToNotIdenticalRector.php
index f254210f11b..c974136d5cb 100644
--- a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/Identical/BooleanNotIdenticalToNotIdenticalRector.php
+++ b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/Identical/BooleanNotIdenticalToNotIdenticalRector.php
@@ -95,20 +95,19 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): ?Node
 
     private function processIdentical(Identical $identical): ?NotIdentical
     {
-        $leftType = $this->getType($identical->left);
-        if (! $leftType->isBoolean()->yes()) {
+        // cheap structural guard first, so getType() runs only on the "!$a === $b" shape
+        if (! $identical->left instanceof BooleanNot) {
             return null;
         }
 
-        $rightType = $this->getType($identical->right);
-        if (! $rightType->isBoolean()->yes()) {
+        if (! $this->getType($identical->left)->isBoolean()->yes()) {
             return null;
         }
 
-        if ($identical->left instanceof BooleanNot) {
-            return new NotIdentical($identical->left->expr, $identical->right);
+        if (! $this->getType($identical->right)->isBoolean()->yes()) {
+            return null;
         }
 
-        return null;
+        return new NotIdentical($identical->left->expr, $identical->right);
     }
 }