diff --git a/src/go/ast/ast.go b/src/go/ast/ast.go
index c87529ec77d..337c87fd797 100644
--- a/src/go/ast/ast.go
+++ b/src/go/ast/ast.go
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func (f *FieldList) End() token.Pos {
 	return token.NoPos
 }
 
-// NumFields returns the number of (type) parameters or struct fields represented by a FieldList.
+// NumFields returns the number of parameters or struct fields represented by a FieldList.
 func (f *FieldList) NumFields() int {
 	n := 0
 	if f != nil {
@@ -973,10 +973,6 @@ type (
 	}
 )
 
-func (f *FuncDecl) IsMethod() bool {
-	return f.Recv.NumFields() != 0
-}
-
 // Pos and End implementations for declaration nodes.
 
 func (d *BadDecl) Pos() token.Pos  { return d.From }
diff --git a/src/go/types/resolver.go b/src/go/types/resolver.go
index f67fc65cd18..114647a2fff 100644
--- a/src/go/types/resolver.go
+++ b/src/go/types/resolver.go
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ func (check *Checker) collectObjects() {
 				info := &declInfo{file: fileScope, fdecl: d.decl}
 				name := d.decl.Name.Name
 				obj := NewFunc(d.decl.Name.Pos(), pkg, name, nil)
-				if !d.decl.IsMethod() {
+				if d.decl.Recv.NumFields() == 0 {
 					// regular function
 					if d.decl.Recv != nil {
 						check.error(d.decl.Recv, _BadRecv, "method is missing receiver")