diff --git a/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp b/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
index c9c391ac6..1fc243ac3 100644
--- a/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/backend/codegen.cpp
@@ -6084,7 +6084,7 @@ FxExpression *FxIdentifier::ResolveMember(FCompileContext &ctx, PStruct *classct
 			}
 			PClass* cls_ctx = dyn_cast<PClass>(classctx);
 			PClass* cls_target = dyn_cast<PClass>(objtype);
-			if ((vsym->Flags & VARF_Protected) && (!cls_ctx || !cls_target || cls_ctx->IsDescendantOf(cls_target)))
+			if ((vsym->Flags & VARF_Protected) && (!cls_ctx || !cls_target || !cls_ctx->IsDescendantOf(cls_target)))
 			{
 				ScriptPosition.Message(MSG_ERROR, "Protected member %s not accessible", vsym->SymbolName.GetChars());
 				return nullptr;
diff --git a/src/scripting/thingdef.cpp b/src/scripting/thingdef.cpp
index b61c9f4ae..99353de6e 100644
--- a/src/scripting/thingdef.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/thingdef.cpp
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ PFunction *FindClassMemberFunction(PStruct *selfcls, PStruct *funccls, FName nam
 
 	if (symbol != nullptr)
 	{
-		PClass* cls_ctx = dyn_cast<PClass>(selfcls);
-		PClass* cls_target = dyn_cast<PClass>(funccls);
+		PClass* cls_ctx = dyn_cast<PClass>(funccls);
+		PClass* cls_target = funcsym?dyn_cast<PClass>(funcsym->OwningClass):nullptr;
 		if (funcsym == nullptr)
 		{
 			sc.Message(MSG_ERROR, "%s is not a member function of %s", name.GetChars(), selfcls->TypeName.GetChars());
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ PFunction *FindClassMemberFunction(PStruct *selfcls, PStruct *funccls, FName nam
 			// private access is only allowed if the symbol table belongs to the class in which the current function is being defined.
 			sc.Message(MSG_ERROR, "%s is declared private and not accessible", symbol->SymbolName.GetChars());
 		}
-		else if ((funcsym->Variants[0].Flags & VARF_Protected) && (!cls_ctx || !cls_target || cls_ctx->IsDescendantOf((PClass*)cls_target)))
+		else if ((funcsym->Variants[0].Flags & VARF_Protected) && (!cls_ctx || !cls_target || !cls_ctx->IsDescendantOf((PClass*)cls_target)))
 		{
 			sc.Message(MSG_ERROR, "%s is declared protected and not accessible", symbol->SymbolName.GetChars());
 			return nullptr;