diff --git a/src/ex_getln.c b/src/ex_getln.c
index 624bf1c..c9760d1 100644
--- a/src/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/ex_getln.c
@@ -4387,7 +4387,10 @@
     *num_file = 0;
     if (xp->xp_context == EXPAND_HELP)
     {
-	if (find_help_tags(pat, num_file, file, FALSE) == OK)
+	/* With an empty argument we would get all the help tags, which is
+	 * very slow.  Get matches for "help" instead. */
+	if (find_help_tags(*pat == NUL ? (char_u *)"help" : pat,
+						 num_file, file, FALSE) == OK)
 	{
 #ifdef FEAT_MULTI_LANG
 	    cleanup_help_tags(*num_file, *file);