diff --git a/libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c b/libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c
index 1be409befd7e..337e584509cf 100644
--- a/libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c
+++ b/libexec/rtld-elf/rtld.c
@@ -3833,15 +3833,19 @@ symlook_default(SymLook *req, const Obj_Entry *refobj)
     donelist_init(&donelist);
     symlook_init_from_req(&req1, req);
 
-    /* Look first in the referencing object if linked symbolically. */
-    if (refobj->symbolic && !donelist_check(&donelist, refobj)) {
-	res = symlook_obj(&req1, refobj);
-	if (res == 0) {
-	    req->sym_out = req1.sym_out;
-	    req->defobj_out = req1.defobj_out;
-	    assert(req->defobj_out != NULL);
-	}
+    /*
+     * Look first in the referencing object if linked symbolically,
+     * and similarly handle protected symbols.
+     */
+    res = symlook_obj(&req1, refobj);
+    if (res == 0 && (refobj->symbolic ||
+      ELF_ST_VISIBILITY(req1.sym_out->st_other) == STV_PROTECTED)) {
+	req->sym_out = req1.sym_out;
+	req->defobj_out = req1.defobj_out;
+	assert(req->defobj_out != NULL);
     }
+    if (refobj->symbolic || req->defobj_out != NULL)
+	donelist_check(&donelist, refobj);
 
     symlook_global(req, &donelist);