diff --git a/proto/message.py b/proto/message.py
index 5135a542..7293fdb5 100644
--- a/proto/message.py
+++ b/proto/message.py
@@ -527,12 +527,23 @@ def __init__(
             try:
                 pb_type = self._meta.fields[key].pb_type
             except KeyError:
-                if ignore_unknown_fields:
-                    continue
-
-                raise ValueError(
-                    "Unknown field for {}: {}".format(self.__class__.__name__, key)
-                )
+                # Underscores may be appended to field names
+                # that collide with python or proto-plus keywords.
+                # In case a key only exists with a `_` suffix, coerce the key
+                # to include the `_` suffix. Is not possible to
+                # natively define the same field with a trailing underscore in protobuf.
+                # See related issue
+                # https://github.com/googleapis/python-api-core/issues/227
+                if f"{key}_" in self._meta.fields:
+                    key = f"{key}_"
+                    pb_type = self._meta.fields[key].pb_type
+                else:
+                    if ignore_unknown_fields:
+                        continue
+
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        "Unknown field for {}: {}".format(self.__class__.__name__, key)
+                    )
 
             pb_value = marshal.to_proto(pb_type, value)
             if pb_value is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_fields_mitigate_collision.py b/tests/test_fields_mitigate_collision.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0dca71df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_fields_mitigate_collision.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# Copyright 2022 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import proto
+
+
+# Underscores may be appended to field names
+# that collide with python or proto-plus keywords.
+# In case a key only exists with a `_` suffix, coerce the key
+# to include the `_` suffix. Is not possible to
+# natively define the same field with a trailing underscore in protobuf.
+# See related issue
+# https://github.com/googleapis/python-api-core/issues/227
+def test_fields_mitigate_collision():
+    class TestMessage(proto.Message):
+        spam_ = proto.Field(proto.STRING, number=1)
+        eggs = proto.Field(proto.STRING, number=2)
+
+    obj = TestMessage(spam_="has_spam")
+    obj.eggs = "has_eggs"
+    assert obj.spam_ == "has_spam"
+
+    # Test that `spam` is coerced to `spam_`
+    modified_obj = TestMessage({"spam": "has_spam", "eggs": "has_eggs"})
+    assert modified_obj.spam_ == "has_spam"