diff --git a/src/nhlua.c b/src/nhlua.c
index 3efc9d385..78fec779a 100644
--- a/src/nhlua.c
+++ b/src/nhlua.c
@@ -788,7 +788,6 @@ nhl_text(lua_State *L)
     if (argc > 0) {
         menu_item *picks = (menu_item *) 0;
         winid tmpwin;
-        anything any = cg.zeroany;
 
         tmpwin = create_nhwindow(NHW_MENU);
         start_menu(tmpwin, MENU_BEHAVE_STANDARD);
@@ -811,8 +810,7 @@ nhl_text(lua_State *L)
                 while ((ptr > str) && !(*ptr == ' ' || *ptr == '\n'))
                     ptr--;
                 *ptr = '\0';
-                add_menu(tmpwin, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, 0,
-                         str, MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+                add_menu_str(tmpwin, str);
                 str = ptr + 1;
             } while (*str && str <= lstr);
             lua_pop(L, 1);
diff --git a/src/o_init.c b/src/o_init.c
index dde0ffcf8..61ec1f80d 100644
--- a/src/o_init.c
+++ b/src/o_init.c
@@ -592,18 +592,13 @@ choose_disco_sort(
         /* called via 'm `' where full alphabetize doesn't make sense
            (only showing one class so can't span all classes) but the
            chosen sort will stick and also apply to '\' usage */
-        any = cg.zeroany;
-        add_menu(tmpwin, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
-                 "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
-        add_menu(tmpwin, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
-                 "Note: full alphabetical and alphabetical within class",
-                 MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
-        add_menu(tmpwin, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
-                 "      are equivalent for single class discovery, but",
-                 MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
-        add_menu(tmpwin, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
-                 "      will matter for future use of total discoveries.",
-                 MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+        add_menu_str(tmpwin, "");
+        add_menu_str(tmpwin,
+                     "Note: full alphabetical and alphabetical within class");
+        add_menu_str(tmpwin,
+                     "      are equivalent for single class discovery, but");
+        add_menu_str(tmpwin,
+                     "      will matter for future use of total discoveries.");
     }
     end_menu(tmpwin, "Ordering of discoveries");