diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
index fd134e9f12..8f0d6050c3 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/typecheck.go
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ func typecheck1(n *Node, top int) *Node {
 				yyerror("%v undefined (cannot refer to unexported field or method %v)", n, n.Sym)
 
 			default:
-				if mt := lookdot(n, t, 2); mt != nil { // Case-insensitive lookup.
+				if mt := lookdot(n, t, 2); mt != nil && visible(mt.Sym) { // Case-insensitive lookup.
 					yyerror("%v undefined (type %v has no field or method %v, but does have %v)", n, n.Left.Type, n.Sym, mt.Sym)
 				} else {
 					yyerror("%v undefined (type %v has no field or method %v)", n, n.Left.Type, n.Sym)
@@ -3132,7 +3132,11 @@ func typecheckcomplit(n *Node) *Node {
 				f := lookdot1(nil, l.Sym, t, t.Fields(), 0)
 				if f == nil {
 					if ci := lookdot1(nil, l.Sym, t, t.Fields(), 2); ci != nil { // Case-insensitive lookup.
-						yyerror("unknown field '%v' in struct literal of type %v (but does have %v)", l.Sym, t, ci.Sym)
+						if visible(ci.Sym) {
+							yyerror("unknown field '%v' in struct literal of type %v (but does have %v)", l.Sym, t, ci.Sym)
+						} else {
+							yyerror("unknown field '%v' in struct literal of type %v", l.Sym, t)
+						}
 						continue
 					}
 					p, _ := dotpath(l.Sym, t, nil, true)
@@ -3179,6 +3183,11 @@ func typecheckcomplit(n *Node) *Node {
 	return n
 }
 
+// visible reports whether sym is exported or locally defined.
+func visible(sym *types.Sym) bool {
+	return sym != nil && (types.IsExported(sym.Name) || sym.Pkg == localpkg)
+}
+
 // lvalue etc
 func islvalue(n *Node) bool {
 	switch n.Op {
diff --git a/test/fixedbugs/issue25727.go b/test/fixedbugs/issue25727.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9b7c804a0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixedbugs/issue25727.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// errorcheck
+
+// Copyright 2018 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
+// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
+
+package main
+
+import "net/http"
+
+var s = http.Server{}
+var _ = s.doneChan // ERROR "s.doneChan undefined .cannot refer to unexported field or method doneChan.$"
+var _ = s.DoneChan // ERROR "s.DoneChan undefined .type http.Server has no field or method DoneChan.$"
+var _ = http.Server{tlsConfig: nil} // ERROR "unknown field 'tlsConfig' in struct literal.+ .but does have TLSConfig.$"
+var _ = http.Server{DoneChan: nil} // ERROR "unknown field 'DoneChan' in struct literal of type http.Server$"
+
+type foo struct {
+    bar int
+}
+
+var _ = &foo{bAr: 10} // ERROR "unknown field 'bAr' in struct literal.+ .but does have bar.$"