diff --git a/helm-elisp.el b/helm-elisp.el
index 69064b682..4b9b7d931 100644
--- a/helm-elisp.el
+++ b/helm-elisp.el
@@ -791,10 +791,7 @@ is only used to test DEFAULT."
     (unless (memq 'helm-apropos helm-commands-using-frame)
       (setq helm-M-x-show-short-doc (not helm-M-x-show-short-doc)
             helm-apropos-show-short-doc (not helm-apropos-show-short-doc))
-      (helm-update (concat "^" (pcase (helm-get-selection)
-                                 ((and (pred stringp) str) str)
-                                 ((and (pred symbolp) sym)
-                                  (symbol-name sym))))
+      (helm-update (concat "^" (helm-stringify (helm-get-selection)))
                    (helm-get-current-source)))))
 
 ;;;###autoload
diff --git a/helm-lib.el b/helm-lib.el
index 565db187a..d337a4673 100644
--- a/helm-lib.el
+++ b/helm-lib.el
@@ -1045,10 +1045,10 @@ Examples:
 (defun helm-stringify (elm)
   "Return the representation of ELM as a string.
 ELM can be a string, a number or a symbol."
-  (cl-typecase elm
-    (string elm)
-    (number (number-to-string elm))
-    (symbol (symbol-name elm))))
+  (pcase elm
+    ((pred stringp) elm)
+    ((pred numberp) (number-to-string elm))
+    ((pred symbolp) (symbol-name elm))))
 
 (defun helm-substring (str width)
   "Return the substring of string STR from 0 to WIDTH.