After carotid artery stenting, retrieval of the embolic protection device can sometimes be difficult due to incomplete stent expansion, stent fracture, vasospasm, and vessel tortuosity. In this technical report, we describe a novel rescue technique used in a patient with diffuse calcific atherosclerosis of the left common and proximal left internal carotid arteries who underwent left internal carotid artery stenting with cerebral protection and in whom, due to an under-expanded proximal carotid stent strut in relation to a densely calcified plaque, we were initially unable to advance the retrieval device.