diff --git a/lisp/help-fns.el b/lisp/help-fns.el
index 0e2ae6b3c3c..1be8e0ab082 100644
--- a/lisp/help-fns.el
+++ b/lisp/help-fns.el
@@ -1000,6 +1000,8 @@ it is displayed along with the global value."
 		    (terpri)
                     (let ((buf (current-buffer)))
                       (with-temp-buffer
+                        (lisp-mode-variables nil)
+                        (set-syntax-table emacs-lisp-mode-syntax-table)
                         (insert print-rep)
                         (pp-buffer)
                         (let ((pp-buffer (current-buffer)))