diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
index 1aa79817916..d5c404c7d2f 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/cperl-mode.el
@@ -8382,7 +8382,7 @@ the appropriate statement modifier."
   (require 'man)
   (let* ((case-fold-search nil)
 	 (is-func (and
-		   (string-match "^[a-z]+$" word)
+		   (string-match "^\\(-[A-Za-z]\\|[a-z]+\\)$" word)
 		   (string-match (concat "^" word "\\>")
 				 (documentation-property
 				  'cperl-short-docs