1 files changed, 4 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/novice.el b/lisp/novice.el
index 922746d1c4c..2c61715cefd 100644
--- a/lisp/novice.el
+++ b/lisp/novice.el
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@
   (let (char)
     (save-window-excursion
      (with-output-to-temp-buffer "*Help*"
-       (if (eq (aref (this-command-keys) 0) ?\M-x)
+       (if (eq (aref (this-command-keys) 0)
+               (if (stringp (this-command-keys))
+                   (aref "\M-x" 0)
+                 ?\M-x))
            (princ "You have invoked the disabled command ")
          (princ "You have typed ")
          (princ (key-description (this-command-keys)))