diff --git a/collects/redex/private/match-a-pattern.rkt b/collects/redex/private/match-a-pattern.rkt
index 4b0465d268..cdb7fcae25 100644
--- a/collects/redex/private/match-a-pattern.rkt
+++ b/collects/redex/private/match-a-pattern.rkt
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ turns into this:
                   `(list ,lpat ...)
                   (? (compose not pair?))) ;; pattern for literals (numbers, strings, prefabs, etc etc etc)
                 (if allow-else?
-                    (list 'else)
+                    (list '_)
                     (list))))
       (for ([pat (in-list pats)])
         (when (null? should-be-pats)