diff --git a/WordPressVIPMinimum/Sniffs/AbstractVariableRestrictionsSniff.php b/WordPressVIPMinimum/Sniffs/AbstractVariableRestrictionsSniff.php
index d355b9c1..1545403d 100644
--- a/WordPressVIPMinimum/Sniffs/AbstractVariableRestrictionsSniff.php
+++ b/WordPressVIPMinimum/Sniffs/AbstractVariableRestrictionsSniff.php
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 use PHPCSUtils\Utils\MessageHelper;
 use WordPressCS\WordPress\Helpers\ContextHelper;
+use WordPressCS\WordPress\Helpers\RulesetPropertyHelper;
 
 /**
  * Restricts usage of some variables.
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ public function process_token( $stackPtr ) {
 
 		$token = $this->tokens[ $stackPtr ];
 
-		$this->excluded_groups = static::merge_custom_array( $this->exclude );
+		$this->excluded_groups = RulesetPropertyHelper::merge_custom_array( $this->exclude );
 		if ( array_diff_key( $this->groups_cache, $this->excluded_groups ) === [] ) {
 			// All groups have been excluded.
 			// Don't remove the listener as the exclude property can be changed inline.