diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
index 7cea40fdd64c2..a3b8c391e023b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/expr.rs
@@ -2310,13 +2310,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
 
         let guar = if field.name == kw::Empty {
             self.tcx.sess.delay_span_bug(field.span, "field name with no name")
-        } else if self.method_exists(
-            field,
-            base_ty,
-            expr.hir_id,
-            true,
-            expected.only_has_type(self),
-        ) {
+        } else if self.method_exists(field, base_ty, expr.hir_id, expected.only_has_type(self)) {
             self.ban_take_value_of_method(expr, base_ty, field)
         } else if !base_ty.is_primitive_ty() {
             self.ban_nonexisting_field(field, base, expr, base_ty)
@@ -2501,7 +2495,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
         let mut err = self.private_field_err(field, base_did);
 
         // Also check if an accessible method exists, which is often what is meant.
-        if self.method_exists(field, expr_t, expr.hir_id, false, return_ty)
+        if self.method_exists(field, expr_t, expr.hir_id, return_ty)
             && !self.expr_in_place(expr.hir_id)
         {
             self.suggest_method_call(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/mod.rs
index 6dd131aa28397..86a0e95de1dab 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/mod.rs
@@ -89,14 +89,13 @@ pub enum CandidateSource {
 }
 
 impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
-    /// Determines whether the type `self_ty` supports a method name `method_name` or not.
+    /// Determines whether the type `self_ty` supports a visible method named `method_name` or not.
     #[instrument(level = "debug", skip(self))]
     pub fn method_exists(
         &self,
         method_name: Ident,
         self_ty: Ty<'tcx>,
         call_expr_id: hir::HirId,
-        allow_private: bool,
         return_type: Option<Ty<'tcx>>,
     ) -> bool {
         match self.probe_for_name(
@@ -118,7 +117,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
             }
             Err(NoMatch(..)) => false,
             Err(Ambiguity(..)) => true,
-            Err(PrivateMatch(..)) => allow_private,
+            Err(PrivateMatch(..)) => false,
             Err(IllegalSizedBound { .. }) => true,
             Err(BadReturnType) => false,
         }
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
index 72a04a02bf4fb..07c48ec6392a8 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_hir_typeck/src/method/suggest.rs
@@ -2361,8 +2361,7 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> FnCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
             Some(output_ty) => self.resolve_vars_if_possible(output_ty),
             _ => return,
         };
-        let method_exists =
-            self.method_exists(item_name, output_ty, call.hir_id, true, return_type);
+        let method_exists = self.method_exists(item_name, output_ty, call.hir_id, return_type);
         debug!("suggest_await_before_method: is_method_exist={}", method_exists);
         if method_exists {
             err.span_suggestion_verbose(
diff --git a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.rs b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..dfa97ad9a6f40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+// This error is an E0609 and *not* an E0615 because the fact that the method exists is not
+// relevant.
+mod foo {
+    pub struct Foo {
+        x: u32,
+    }
+
+    impl Foo {
+        fn method(&self) {}
+    }
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    let f = foo::Foo { x: 0 };
+    f.method; //~ ERROR E0609
+}
diff --git a/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.stderr b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..d2a11e9062740
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/error-codes/E0609-private-method.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+error[E0609]: no field `method` on type `Foo`
+  --> $DIR/E0609-private-method.rs:15:7
+   |
+LL |     f.method;
+   |       ^^^^^^ unknown field
+
+error: aborting due to previous error
+
+For more information about this error, try `rustc --explain E0609`.