diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/help-desk.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/help-desk.ss
index 9bd44b2d5e..2ef42e8754 100644
--- a/collects/drscheme/private/help-desk.ss
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/help-desk.ss
@@ -73,4 +73,4 @@
 (define help-desk
   (case-lambda
     [() (send-main-page)]
-    [(key) (perform-search (list key))]))
+    [(key) (perform-search key)]))