diff --git a/src/reflect/all_test.go b/src/reflect/all_test.go
index 5a5c91b751..962c326c03 100644
--- a/src/reflect/all_test.go
+++ b/src/reflect/all_test.go
@@ -5521,6 +5521,25 @@ func TestKeepFuncLive(t *testing.T) {
 	MakeFunc(typ, f).Call([]Value{ValueOf(10)})
 }
 
+type UnExportedFirst int
+
+func (i UnExportedFirst) ΦExported()  {}
+func (i UnExportedFirst) unexported() {}
+
+// Issue 21177
+func TestMethodByNameUnExportedFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	defer func() {
+		if recover() != nil {
+			t.Errorf("should not panic")
+		}
+	}()
+	typ := TypeOf(UnExportedFirst(0))
+	m, _ := typ.MethodByName("ΦExported")
+	if m.Name != "ΦExported" {
+		t.Errorf("got %s, expected ΦExported", m.Name)
+	}
+}
+
 // Issue 18635 (method version).
 type KeepMethodLive struct{}
 
diff --git a/src/reflect/type.go b/src/reflect/type.go
index dbb65f14bf..9f02219c8e 100644
--- a/src/reflect/type.go
+++ b/src/reflect/type.go
@@ -871,11 +871,15 @@ func (t *rtype) MethodByName(name string) (m Method, ok bool) {
 		return Method{}, false
 	}
 	utmethods := ut.methods()
+	var eidx int
 	for i := 0; i < int(ut.mcount); i++ {
 		p := utmethods[i]
 		pname := t.nameOff(p.name)
-		if pname.isExported() && pname.name() == name {
-			return t.Method(i), true
+		if pname.isExported() {
+			if pname.name() == name {
+				return t.Method(eidx), true
+			}
+			eidx++
 		}
 	}
 	return Method{}, false