diff --git a/lib/composure.sh b/lib/composure.sh
index beaf13a2..53f30344 100644
--- a/lib/composure.sh
+++ b/lib/composure.sh
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ draft ()
     fi
 
     # aliases bind tighter than function names, disallow them
-    if [ -n "$(type -a $func 2>/dev/null | grep 'is.*alias')" ]; then
+    if [ -n "$(LANG=C type -t $func 2>/dev/null | grep 'alias')" ]; then
         printf '%s\n' "sorry, $(type -a $func). please choose another name."
         return
     fi
diff --git a/lib/helpers.bash b/lib/helpers.bash
index 4c39704d..eb5ea355 100644
--- a/lib/helpers.bash
+++ b/lib/helpers.bash
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ _is_function ()
     _about 'sets $? to true if parameter is the name of a function'
     _param '1: name of alleged function'
     _group 'lib'
-    [ -n "$(type -a $1 2>/dev/null | grep 'is a function')" ]
+    [ -n "$(LANG=C type -t $1 2>/dev/null | grep 'function')" ]
 }
 
 _bash-it-aliases ()