diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/linters/help.py b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/linters/help.py
index 1d5776a8c56..0008d465662 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tool_util/linters/help.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tool_util/linters/help.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 """This module contains a linting function for a tool's help."""
+
+from typing import Union
+
 from galaxy.util import (
     rst_to_html,
     unicodify,
@@ -30,10 +33,22 @@ def lint_help(tool_xml, lint_ctx):
     if "TODO" in help_text:
         lint_ctx.warn("Help contains TODO text.", node=helps[0])
 
-    try:
-        rst_to_html(help_text, error=True)
-    except Exception as e:
-        lint_ctx.warn(f"Invalid reStructuredText found in help - [{unicodify(e)}].", node=helps[0])
-        return
+    invalid_rst = rst_invalid(help_text)
+    if invalid_rst:
+        lint_ctx.warn(f"Invalid reStructuredText found in help - [{invalid_rst}].", node=helps[0])
+    else:
+        lint_ctx.valid("Help contains valid reStructuredText.", node=helps[0])
 
-    lint_ctx.valid("Help contains valid reStructuredText.", node=helps[0])
+
+def rst_invalid(text: str) -> Union[bool, str]:
+    """
+    Predicate to determine if text is invalid reStructuredText.
+    Return False if the supplied text is valid reStructuredText or
+    a string indicating the problem.
+    """
+    invalid_rst: Union[bool, str] = False
+    try:
+        rst_to_html(text, error=True)
+    except Exception as e:
+        invalid_rst = unicodify(e)
+    return invalid_rst