diff --git a/extra/math/text/french/french.factor b/extra/math/text/french/french.factor
index 6d4987fddc..78af45c66b 100644
--- a/extra/math/text/french/french.factor
+++ b/extra/math/text/french/french.factor
@@ -49,11 +49,8 @@ MEMO: units ( -- seq ) ! up to 10^99
 
 : smaller-than-100 ( n -- str ) 80 base-onto ;
 
-: if-zero ( n quot quot -- )
-    [ dup zero? ] 2dip [ [ drop ] prepose ] dip if ; inline
-
 : complete ( str n -- newstr )
-    [ ] [ basic space-append ] if-zero ;
+    [ basic space-append ] unless-zero ;
 
 : smaller-than-1000 ( n -- str )
     100 /mod