diff --git a/vlib/v/ast/table.v b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
index d5a26506c9..5c3269a757 100644
--- a/vlib/v/ast/table.v
+++ b/vlib/v/ast/table.v
@@ -412,9 +412,14 @@ fn (t &Table) register_aggregate_field(mut sym TypeSymbol, name string) ?StructF
 			if !found_once {
 				found_once = true
 				new_field = type_field
-			} else if !new_field.equals(type_field) {
+			} else if new_field.typ != type_field.typ {
 				return error('field `${t.type_to_str(typ)}.$name` type is different')
 			}
+			new_field = StructField{
+				...new_field
+				is_mut: new_field.is_mut && type_field.is_mut
+				is_pub: new_field.is_pub && type_field.is_pub
+			}
 		} else {
 			return error('type `${t.type_to_str(typ)}` has no field or method `$name`')
 		}
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/match_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/match_test.v
index 71458872d1..32a77b6b1c 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/match_test.v
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/match_test.v
@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ fn (a Alfa) letter() rune {
 struct Bravo {
 	// A field so that Alfa and Bravo structures aren't the same
 	dummy_field int
-	char        rune = `b`
+pub mut:
+	// NB: the `char` field is not `pub` or `mut` in all sumtype variants, but using it in aggregates should still work
+	char rune = `b`
 }
 
 fn (b Bravo) letter() rune {