diff --git a/module/ice-9/psyntax.scm b/module/ice-9/psyntax.scm
index 69cd1a584..6c96bdbd6 100644
--- a/module/ice-9/psyntax.scm
+++ b/module/ice-9/psyntax.scm
@@ -2607,6 +2607,16 @@
       ((_ (k ...) ((keyword . pattern) template) ...)
        #'(lambda (x)
            ;; embed patterns as procedure metadata
+           #((macro-type . syntax-rules)
+             (patterns pattern ...))
+           (syntax-case x (k ...)
+             ((dummy . pattern) #'template)
+             ...)))
+      ((_ (k ...) docstring ((keyword . pattern) template) ...)
+       (string? (syntax->datum #'docstring))
+       #'(lambda (x)
+           ;; the same, but allow a docstring
+           docstring
            #((macro-type . syntax-rules)
              (patterns pattern ...))
            (syntax-case x (k ...)