diff --git a/sphinx/texinputs/sphinxhowto.cls b/sphinx/texinputs/sphinxhowto.cls
index 6980f10a1..42c44d29e 100644
--- a/sphinx/texinputs/sphinxhowto.cls
+++ b/sphinx/texinputs/sphinxhowto.cls
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
 % so no page break before it.
 \newenvironment{sphinxthebibliography}[1]{%
   \begin{thebibliography}{1}%
-  \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{\bibname}}{\end{thebibliography}}
+  \addcontentsline{toc}{section}{\ifdefined\refname\refname\else\ifdefined\bibname\bibname\fi\fi}}{\end{thebibliography}}
 
 
 % Same for the indices.