diff --git a/lisp/subr.el b/lisp/subr.el
index b21cce16696..e142eaa8104 100644
--- a/lisp/subr.el
+++ b/lisp/subr.el
@@ -3956,9 +3956,10 @@ detailed description.
 (defun internal--with-narrowing (start end body &optional tag)
   "Helper function for `with-narrowing', which see."
   (save-restriction
-    (narrow-to-region start end)
-    (when tag (narrowing-lock tag))
-    (funcall body)))
+    (progn
+      (narrow-to-region start end)
+      (if tag (narrowing-lock tag))
+      (funcall body))))
 
 (defun find-tag-default-bounds ()
   "Determine the boundaries of the default tag, based on text at point.