diff --git a/lisp/shell.el b/lisp/shell.el
index 9238ad1e8a0..53f5d0b6f1c 100644
--- a/lisp/shell.el
+++ b/lisp/shell.el
@@ -556,8 +556,7 @@ Variables `comint-output-filter-functions', a hook, and
 `comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-input' and `comint-scroll-to-bottom-on-output'
 control whether input and output cause the window to scroll to the end of the
 buffer."
-  (when (called-interactively-p 'any)
-    (error "Can't be called interactively; did you mean `shell-script-mode' instead?"))
+  :interactive nil
   (setq comint-prompt-regexp shell-prompt-pattern)
   (shell-completion-vars)
   (setq-local paragraph-separate "\\'")