diff --git a/app/pdb/pdb-cmds.c b/app/pdb/pdb-cmds.c
index 62a5c6c243..439677efaf 100644
--- a/app/pdb/pdb-cmds.c
+++ b/app/pdb/pdb-cmds.c
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ pdb_proc_exists_invoker (GimpProcedure         *procedure,
                 proc = gimp_pdb_lookup_procedure (gimp->pdb, procedure_name);
             }
 
-          exists = (proc != NULL);
+          exists = (proc != NULL && ! proc->is_private);
         }
       else
         {
diff --git a/pdb/groups/pdb.pdb b/pdb/groups/pdb.pdb
index 9a71ecfbce..5f9ba6b08a 100644
--- a/pdb/groups/pdb.pdb
+++ b/pdb/groups/pdb.pdb
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ HELP
             proc = gimp_pdb_lookup_procedure (gimp->pdb, procedure_name);
         }
 
-      exists = (proc != NULL);
+      exists = (proc != NULL && ! proc->is_private);
     }
   else
     {