diff --git a/lisp/help-mode.el b/lisp/help-mode.el
index 4ee4f4156a1..f44f892ba27 100644
--- a/lisp/help-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/help-mode.el
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ help-xref-go-back
 	      position (car item)
 	      method (cadr item)
 	      args (cddr item))))
-    (apply method args)
+    (help-do-xref nil method args)
     (with-current-buffer buffer
       (if (get-buffer-window buffer)
 	  (set-window-point (get-buffer-window buffer) position)
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ help-xref-go-forward
 	      position (car item)
 	      method (cadr item)
 	      args (cddr item))))
-    (apply method args)
+    (help-do-xref nil method args)
     (with-current-buffer buffer
       (if (get-buffer-window buffer)
 	  (set-window-point (get-buffer-window buffer) position)