diff --git a/src/vim9expr.c b/src/vim9expr.c
index 1b23b7f..bfbb369 100644
--- a/src/vim9expr.c
+++ b/src/vim9expr.c
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@
 	    return FAIL;
 	}
 
-	if (ufunc->uf_private && !inside_class_hierarchy(cctx, cl))
+	if (*ufunc->uf_name == '_' && !inside_class_hierarchy(cctx, cl))
 	{
 	    semsg(_(e_cannot_access_private_method_str), name);
 	    return FAIL;