diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/eglot.el b/lisp/progmodes/eglot.el
index 6d192d9b333..0082a171303 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/eglot.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/eglot.el
@@ -991,6 +991,7 @@ Return (MANAGED-MODE PROJECT CLASS CONTACT LANG-ID).  If INTERACTIVE is
 non-nil, maybe prompt user, else error as soon as something can't
 be guessed."
   (let* ((guessed-mode (if buffer-file-name major-mode))
+         (guessed-mode-name (and guessed-mode (symbol-name guessed-mode)))
          (main-mode
           (cond
            ((and interactive
@@ -1000,7 +1001,7 @@ be guessed."
              (completing-read
               "[eglot] Start a server to manage buffers of what major mode? "
               (mapcar #'symbol-name (eglot--all-major-modes)) nil t
-              (symbol-name guessed-mode) nil (symbol-name guessed-mode) nil)))
+              guessed-mode-name nil guessed-mode-name nil)))
            ((not guessed-mode)
             (eglot--error "Can't guess mode to manage for `%s'" (current-buffer)))
            (t guessed-mode)))