diff --git a/lisp/desktop.el b/lisp/desktop.el
index 666be7efee3b0003ea25a5644775cac93e4723b4..36e4981b821a13dec8d43b4fcd3990bfa347e6f6 100644
--- a/lisp/desktop.el
+++ b/lisp/desktop.el
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ is nil, ask the user where to save the desktop."
 
 ;; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (defun desktop-list* (&rest args)
-  (and args (cl-list* args)))
+  (and args (apply #'cl-list* args)))
 
 ;; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (defun desktop-buffer-info (buffer)