diff --git a/runtime/ftplugin/help.vim b/runtime/ftplugin/help.vim
index e8651b5d59..e77484bffb 100644
--- a/runtime/ftplugin/help.vim
+++ b/runtime/ftplugin/help.vim
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 " Last Change:          2025 Apr 08
 " 2025 Apr 08 by Vim project (set 'omnifunc' and 'iskeyword', #17073)
 " 2025 Aug 08 by Vim project (unset comment options, #17889)
+" 2026 Apr 26 by Vim project (make HelpComplete global, #20024)
 
 if exists("b:did_ftplugin")
   finish
@@ -17,14 +18,14 @@ let b:undo_ftplugin = "setl isk< fo< tw< cole< cocu< keywordprg< omnifunc< comme
 
 setl comments= cms=
 
-setlocal formatoptions+=tcroql textwidth=78 keywordprg=:help omnifunc=s:HelpComplete
+setlocal formatoptions+=tcroql textwidth=78 keywordprg=:help omnifunc=HelpComplete
 let &l:iskeyword='!-~,^*,^|,^",192-255'
 if has("conceal")
   setlocal cole=2 cocu=nc
 endif
 
-if !exists('*s:HelpComplete')
-  func s:HelpComplete(findstart, base)
+if !exists('HelpComplete')
+  func HelpComplete(findstart, base)
     if a:findstart
       let colnr = col('.') - 1 " Get the column number before the cursor
       let line = getline('.')