diff --git a/src/help.c b/src/help.c
index 48178fd..e580680 100644
--- a/src/help.c
+++ b/src/help.c
@@ -708,7 +708,8 @@
     if (STRCMP(curbuf->b_p_ft, "help") != 0)
     {
 	++curbuf_lock;
-	set_option_value((char_u *)"ft", 0L, (char_u *)"help", OPT_LOCAL);
+	set_option_value_give_err((char_u *)"ft",
+					      0L, (char_u *)"help", OPT_LOCAL);
 	--curbuf_lock;
     }