diff --git a/src/pkg/template/exec.go b/src/pkg/template/exec.go
index f1590b3bb6..e7fad72fe7 100644
--- a/src/pkg/template/exec.go
+++ b/src/pkg/template/exec.go
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ func (s *state) validateType(value reflect.Value, typ reflect.Type) reflect.Valu
 		// are much more constrained, so it makes more sense there than here.
 		// Besides, one is almost always all you need.
 		switch {
-		case value.Kind() == reflect.Ptr && value.Elem().Type().AssignableTo(typ):
+		case value.Kind() == reflect.Ptr && value.Type().Elem().AssignableTo(typ):
 			value = value.Elem()
 		case reflect.PtrTo(value.Type()).AssignableTo(typ) && value.CanAddr():
 			value = value.Addr()