diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
index 8d44fae30a..8e7c34da38 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/package.el
@@ -4549,7 +4549,7 @@ package-maintainers
       (user-error "Package `%s' has no explicit maintainer" name))
      ((and (not (progn
                   (require 'ietf-drums)
-                  (ietf-drums-parse-address maint)))
+                  (ietf-drums-parse-address (cdr maint))))
            (null no-error))
       (user-error "Package `%s' has no maintainer address" name))
      ((not (null maint))