diff --git a/lib/ex_doc/language/elixir.ex b/lib/ex_doc/language/elixir.ex
index 67459a732..e64ac42ad 100644
--- a/lib/ex_doc/language/elixir.ex
+++ b/lib/ex_doc/language/elixir.ex
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ defmodule ExDoc.Language.Elixir do
   # If it is none, then we need to look at underscore.
   # TODO: We can remove this on Elixir v1.13 as all underscored are hidden.
   defp doc?({{_, name, _}, _, _, :none, _}, _type) do
-    hd(Atom.to_charlist(name)) != ?_
+    not match?([?_ | _], Atom.to_charlist(name))
   end
 
   # Everything else is hidden.
diff --git a/lib/ex_doc/refs.ex b/lib/ex_doc/refs.ex
index 4a7dac33f..b09b3b391 100644
--- a/lib/ex_doc/refs.ex
+++ b/lib/ex_doc/refs.ex
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ defmodule ExDoc.Refs do
 
   defguardp has_no_docs(doc) when doc == :none or doc == %{}
 
-  defp starts_with_underscore?(name), do: hd(Atom.to_charlist(name)) == ?_
+  defp starts_with_underscore?(name), do: match?([?_ | _], Atom.to_charlist(name))
 
   defp visibility(:hidden),
     do: :hidden