diff --git a/lisp/locate.el b/lisp/locate.el
index 5934a572d4d..563300f6c03 100644
--- a/lisp/locate.el
+++ b/lisp/locate.el
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
 
 (defcustom locate-header-face nil
   "*Face used to highlight the locate header."
-  :type 'face
+  :type '(choice face (const nil))
   :group 'locate)
 
 ;;;###autoload