diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/reftex-vars.el b/lisp/textmodes/reftex-vars.el
index 88ad4478b06..a9d5819f4b6 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/reftex-vars.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/reftex-vars.el
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ distribution.  Mixed-case symbols are convenience aliases.")
     (harvard "The Harvard package"
      ((?\C-m . "\\cite[]{%l}")
       (?p    . "\\cite[]{%l}")
-      (?t    . "\\citeasnoun{%l}")
-      (?n    . "\\citeasnoun{%l}")
+      (?t    . "\\citeasnoun[]{%l}")
+      (?n    . "\\citeasnoun[]{%l}")
       (?s    . "\\possessivecite{%l}")
       (?e    . "\\citeaffixed{%l}{?}")
       (?y    . "\\citeyear{%l}")