diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
index d0c9e72cc..fbc7dfeac 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Utils.hs
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ withJournalDo opts cmd = do
 
 -- | Apply the pivot transformation on a journal, if option is present.
 pivotByOpts :: CliOpts -> Journal -> Journal
-pivotByOpts opts
-  | Just tag <- maybeTag = pivot tag
-  | Nothing  <- maybeTag = id
- where maybeTag = maybestringopt "pivot" . rawopts_ $ opts
+pivotByOpts opts =
+  case maybestringopt "pivot" . rawopts_ $ opts of
+    Just tag -> pivot tag
+    Nothing  -> id
 
 -- | Apply the pivot transformation by given tag on a journal.
 pivot :: String -> Journal -> Journal