diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index ae3d491cad..c5840c064c 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -318,8 +318,13 @@ if WITH_LINUX
 check-symfile: libvirt.syms libvirt.la
 	$(AM_V_GEN)$(PERL) $(srcdir)/check-symfile.pl libvirt.syms \
 	  .libs/libvirt.so
+
+check-private-symfile: libvirt_private.syms libvirt.la
+	$(AM_V_GEN)$(PERL) $(srcdir)/check-symfile.pl libvirt_private.syms \
+	  .libs/libvirt.so
 else
 check-symfile:
+check-private-symfile:
 endif
 
 PROTOCOL_STRUCTS = \
@@ -344,7 +349,7 @@ else !WITH_REMOTE
 check-protocol:
 endif
 EXTRA_DIST += $(PROTOCOL_STRUCTS) check-symfile.pl
-check-local: check-protocol check-symfile
+check-local: check-protocol check-symfile check-private-symfile
 .PHONY: check-protocol $(PROTOCOL_STRUCTS:structs=struct)
 
 # Mock driver, covering domains, storage, networks, etc
diff --git a/src/check-symfile.pl b/src/check-symfile.pl
index ac37b4614b..435e04537b 100755
--- a/src/check-symfile.pl
+++ b/src/check-symfile.pl
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ foreach my $elflib (@elflibs) {
     close NM;
 }
 
-foreach my $sym (@wantsyms) {
+foreach my $sym (keys(%wantsyms)) {
     next if exists $gotsyms{$sym};
 
     print STDERR "Expected symbol $sym is not in ELF library\n";