diff --git a/lisp/subr.el b/lisp/subr.el
index 30314343650..301e2e42566 100644
--- a/lisp/subr.el
+++ b/lisp/subr.el
@@ -2580,6 +2580,8 @@ Affects only hooks run in the current buffer."
           (list binding binding))
          ((null (cdr binding))
           (list (make-symbol "s") (car binding)))
+         ((eq '_ (car binding))
+          (list (make-symbol "s") (cadr binding)))
          (t binding)))
   (when (> (length binding) 2)
     (signal 'error