diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/sgml-mode.el b/lisp/textmodes/sgml-mode.el
index b85ba5c26d4..aaf05e4df1a 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/sgml-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/sgml-mode.el
@@ -1199,13 +1199,14 @@ with output going to the buffer `*compilation*'.
 You can then use the command \\[next-error] to find the next error message
 and move to the line in the SGML document that caused it."
   (interactive
-   (list (read-string "Validate command: "
-		      (or sgml-saved-validate-command
-			  (concat sgml-validate-command
-				  " "
-                                  (when-let* ((name (buffer-file-name)))
-				    (shell-quote-argument
-				     (file-name-nondirectory name))))))))
+   (list (read-shell-command "Validate command: "
+		             (or sgml-saved-validate-command
+                                 sgml-validate-command
+			         (concat sgml-validate-command
+				         " "
+                                         (when-let* ((name (buffer-file-name)))
+				           (shell-quote-argument
+				            (file-name-nondirectory name))))))))
   (setq sgml-saved-validate-command command)
   (save-some-buffers (not compilation-ask-about-save) nil)
   (compilation-start command))