diff --git a/mercurial/extensions.py b/mercurial/extensions.py
--- a/mercurial/extensions.py
+++ b/mercurial/extensions.py
@@ -808,18 +808,8 @@ def disabled():
     return exts
 
 
-def disabledext(name):
-    '''find a specific disabled extension from hgext. returns desc'''
-    try:
-        from hgext import __index__  # pytype: disable=import-error
-
-        if name in _order:  # enabled
-            return
-        else:
-            return gettext(__index__.docs.get(name))
-    except (ImportError, AttributeError):
-        pass
-
+def disabled_help(name):
+    """Obtain the full help text for a disabled extension, or None."""
     paths = _disabledpaths()
     if name in paths:
         return _disabledhelp(paths[name])
diff --git a/mercurial/help.py b/mercurial/help.py
--- a/mercurial/help.py
+++ b/mercurial/help.py
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ def help_(
             doc = gettext(pycompat.getdoc(mod)) or _(b'no help text available')
         except KeyError:
             mod = None
-            doc = extensions.disabledext(name)
+            doc = extensions.disabled_help(name)
             if not doc:
                 raise error.UnknownCommand(name)
 
diff --git a/mercurial/hg.py b/mercurial/hg.py
--- a/mercurial/hg.py
+++ b/mercurial/hg.py
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ def clone(
         # data.
         createopts[b'lfs'] = True
 
-        if extensions.disabledext(b'lfs'):
+        if extensions.disabled_help(b'lfs'):
             ui.status(
                 _(
                     b'(remote is using large file support (lfs), but it is '