diff --git a/lang/core/template_func.go b/lang/core/template_func.go
index 7b243428..1edf8668 100644
--- a/lang/core/template_func.go
+++ b/lang/core/template_func.go
@@ -425,8 +425,12 @@ func (obj *TemplateFunc) run(templateText string, vars types.Value) (string, err
 		// parameter types. Functions meant to apply to arguments of
 		// arbitrary type can use parameters of type interface{} or of
 		// type reflect.Value.
-		f := wrap(name, fn) // wrap it so that it meets API expectations
-		funcMap[name] = f   // add it
+		f, err := wrap(name, fn) // wrap it so that it meets API expectations
+		if err != nil {
+			obj.init.Logf("warning, skipping function named: `%s`, err: %v", name, err)
+			continue
+		}
+		funcMap[name] = f // add it
 	}
 
 	var err error
@@ -581,7 +585,14 @@ func safename(name string) string {
 // function API with what is expected from the reflection API. It returns a
 // version that includes the optional second error return value so that our
 // functions can return errors without causing a panic.
-func wrap(name string, fn *types.FuncValue) interface{} {
+func wrap(name string, fn *types.FuncValue) (_ interface{}, reterr error) {
+	defer func() {
+		// catch unhandled panics
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			reterr = fmt.Errorf("panic in template wrap of `%s` function: %+v", name, r)
+		}
+	}()
+
 	if fn.T.Map == nil {
 		panic("malformed func type")
 	}
@@ -600,7 +611,8 @@ func wrap(name string, fn *types.FuncValue) interface{} {
 
 		in = append(in, t.Reflect())
 	}
-	out := []reflect.Type{fn.T.Out.Reflect(), errorType}
+	ret := fn.T.Out.Reflect() // this can panic!
+	out := []reflect.Type{ret, errorType}
 	var variadic = false // currently not supported in our function value
 	typ := reflect.FuncOf(in, out, variadic)
 
@@ -640,5 +652,5 @@ func wrap(name string, fn *types.FuncValue) interface{} {
 		return []reflect.Value{reflect.ValueOf(result.Value()), nilError}
 	}
 	val := reflect.MakeFunc(typ, f)
-	return val.Interface()
+	return val.Interface(), nil
 }
diff --git a/lang/types/type.go b/lang/types/type.go
index 5805a353..e8073c1f 100644
--- a/lang/types/type.go
+++ b/lang/types/type.go
@@ -899,6 +899,11 @@ func (obj *Type) Reflect() reflect.Type {
 			if t == nil {
 				panic("malformed struct field")
 			}
+			if strings.Title(k) != k { // is exported?
+				//k = strings.Title(k) // TODO: is this helpful?
+				// reflect.StructOf would panic on anything unexported
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("struct has unexported field: %s", k))
+			}
 
 			fields = append(fields, reflect.StructField{
 				Name: k, // struct field name
diff --git a/lang/types/type_test.go b/lang/types/type_test.go
index d03117d7..23c169ca 100644
--- a/lang/types/type_test.go
+++ b/lang/types/type_test.go
@@ -1502,3 +1502,25 @@ func TestTypeOf0(t *testing.T) {
 	// TODO: implement testing of the TypeOf function
 	// TODO: implement testing TypeOf for struct field name mappings
 }
+
+func TestReflect0(t *testing.T) {
+	mustPanic := func() (reterr error) {
+		defer func() {
+			// catch unhandled panics
+			if r := recover(); r != nil {
+				reterr = fmt.Errorf("panic: %+v", r)
+			}
+		}()
+
+		// It's unclear if we want this behaviour forever, but it is the
+		// current behaviour, and I'd at least like to know if it
+		// changes so we can understand where (if at all) it's required.
+		typ := NewType("struct{field1 str}")
+		_ = typ.Reflect()
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := mustPanic(); err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("expected panic, got nil")
+	}
+}