diff --git a/docs/subsystems/widgets.md b/docs/subsystems/widgets.md
index 01a08fa068..24409580b2 100644
--- a/docs/subsystems/widgets.md
+++ b/docs/subsystems/widgets.md
@@ -322,10 +322,10 @@ shown here) and then sets up a click handler like below:
         // data structure.
         var reply_content = data.choices[idx].reply;
 
-        transmit.reply_message({
-            message: opts.message,
-            content: reply_content,
-        });
+        transmit.reply_message(
+            opts.message,
+            reply_content,
+        );
     });
 ```
 
diff --git a/web/src/transmit.ts b/web/src/transmit.ts
index 5bfa9b2824..3945694ec8 100644
--- a/web/src/transmit.ts
+++ b/web/src/transmit.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export function send_message(
     });
 }
 
-export function reply_message(opts: {message: Message; content: string}): void {
+export function reply_message(message: Message, content: string): void {
     // This code does an application-triggered reply to a message (as
     // opposed to the user themselves doing it).  Its only use case
     // for now is experimental widget-aware bots, so treat this as
@@ -106,8 +106,6 @@ export function reply_message(opts: {message: Message; content: string}): void {
     // bot that wants to give users 3 or 4 canned replies to some
     // choice, but it wants to front-end each of these options
     // with a one-click button.  This function is part of that architecture.
-    const message = opts.message;
-    let content = opts.content;
 
     function success(): void {
         // TODO: If server response comes back before the message event,
diff --git a/web/src/zform.js b/web/src/zform.js
index 1194fbd3a1..6f5f938c94 100644
--- a/web/src/zform.js
+++ b/web/src/zform.js
@@ -39,10 +39,7 @@ export function activate(opts) {
             // data structure.
             const reply_content = data.choices[idx].reply;
 
-            transmit.reply_message({
-                message: opts.message,
-                content: reply_content,
-            });
+            transmit.reply_message(opts.message, reply_content);
         });
 
         return $elem;
diff --git a/web/tests/transmit.test.cjs b/web/tests/transmit.test.cjs
index e7e2fc2ba6..756c97a907 100644
--- a/web/tests/transmit.test.cjs
+++ b/web/tests/transmit.test.cjs
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ run_test("reply_message_stream", ({override}) => {
     server_events_state.queue_id = 66;
     sent_messages.get_new_local_id = () => "99";
 
-    transmit.reply_message({
-        message: stream_message,
-        content,
-    });
+    transmit.reply_message(stream_message, content);
 
     assert.deepEqual(send_message_args, {
         sender_id: 44,
@@ -199,10 +196,7 @@ run_test("reply_message_private", ({override}) => {
     server_events_state.queue_id = 177;
     sent_messages.get_new_local_id = () => "199";
 
-    transmit.reply_message({
-        message: pm_message,
-        content,
-    });
+    transmit.reply_message(pm_message, content);
 
     assert.deepEqual(send_message_args, {
         sender_id: 155,
@@ -221,7 +215,5 @@ run_test("reply_message_errors", () => {
 
     blueslip.expect("error", "unknown message type");
 
-    transmit.reply_message({
-        message: bogus_message,
-    });
+    transmit.reply_message(bogus_message, "");
 });