diff --git a/help.php b/help.php
index 9783c1f1aa6c..9456c856d186 100644
--- a/help.php
+++ b/help.php
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@
     echo $OUTPUT->header();
 }
 
+if (!$sm->string_exists($identifier.'_help', $component)) {
+    // strings on-diskc cache may be dirty - try to rebuild it and check again
+    $sm->load_component_strings($component, current_language(), true);
+}
+
 if ($sm->string_exists($identifier.'_help', $component)) {
     $options = new object;
     $options->trusted = false;