diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el b/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
index 77bf3f1ed1..44f4c012ef 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/elisp-mode.el
@@ -697,7 +697,11 @@ elisp-completion-at-point
                                      (let ((c (char-after)))
                                        (if (eq c ?\() ?\(
                                          (if (memq (char-syntax c) '(?w ?_))
-                                             (read (current-buffer))))))
+                                             (let ((pt (point)))
+                                               (ignore-errors
+                                                 (forward-sexp)
+                                                 (intern-soft
+                                                  (buffer-substring pt (point)))))))))
                             (error nil))))
                      (pcase parent
                        ;; FIXME: Rather than hardcode special cases here,