diff --git a/evennia/help/models.py b/evennia/help/models.py
index d3323266c6..76391699e3 100644
--- a/evennia/help/models.py
+++ b/evennia/help/models.py
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ class HelpEntry(SharedMemoryModel):
         "help key", max_length=255, unique=True, help_text="key to search for"
     )
 
-    @lazy_property
-    def key(self):
-        return self.db_key
-
     # help category
     db_help_category = models.CharField(
         "help category",
@@ -69,10 +65,6 @@ class HelpEntry(SharedMemoryModel):
         help_text="organizes help entries in lists",
     )
 
-    @lazy_property
-    def help_category(self):
-        return self.db_help_category
-
     # the actual help entry text, in any formatting.
     db_entrytext = models.TextField(
         "help entry", blank=True, help_text="the main body of help text"
@@ -233,11 +225,10 @@ class HelpEntry(SharedMemoryModel):
         """
 
         try:
-            url = reverse(
+            return reverse(
                 "%s-detail" % slugify(self._meta.verbose_name),
                 kwargs={"category": slugify(self.db_help_category), "topic": slugify(self.db_key)},
             )
-            return url
         except Exception:
             return "#"
 
diff --git a/evennia/web/templates/website/help_detail.html b/evennia/web/templates/website/help_detail.html
index 9da5ad3a1f..a5ed6045ef 100644
--- a/evennia/web/templates/website/help_detail.html
+++ b/evennia/web/templates/website/help_detail.html
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
         <hr />
         <ol class="breadcrumb">
           <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="{% url 'help' %}">Help Index</a></li>
-          <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="{% url 'help' %}#{{ object.help_category }}">{{ object.help_category|title }}</a></li>
-          <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">{{ object.key|title }}</li>
+          <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="{% url 'help' %}#{{ object.web_help_category }}">{{ object.help_category|title }}</a></li>
+          <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">{{ object.web_help_key|title }}</li>
         </ol>
         <hr />
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
             {% endif %}
 
             <div class="card mb-3">
-              <div class="card-header">{{ object.help_category|title }}</div>
+              <div class="card-header">{{ object.web_help_category|title }}</div>
 
               <ul class="list-group list-group-flush">
                 {% for topic in topic_list %}
diff --git a/evennia/web/website/views/help.py b/evennia/web/website/views/help.py
index 04a2933675..caa1fd911b 100644
--- a/evennia/web/website/views/help.py
+++ b/evennia/web/website/views/help.py
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ def get_help_category(help_entry, slugify_cat=True):
     Returns:
         help_category (str): The category for the help entry.
     """
-    help_category = getattr(help_entry, 'help_category', DEFAULT_HELP_CATEGORY)
+    help_category = getattr(help_entry, 'help_category', None)
+    if not help_category:
+        help_category = getattr(help_entry, 'db_help_category', DEFAULT_HELP_CATEGORY)
+    # if one does not exist, create a category for ease of use with web views html templates
     if not hasattr(help_entry, 'web_help_category'):
         setattr(help_entry, 'web_help_category', slugify(help_category))
     return slugify(help_category) if slugify_cat else help_category
@@ -46,9 +49,16 @@ def get_help_topic(help_entry):
         help_entry (HelpEntry, FileHelpEntry or Command): Help entry instance.
 
     Returns:
-        topic (str): The topic of the help entry. Default is 'unknown_topic'.
+        help_topic (str): The topic of the help entry. Default is 'unknown_topic'.
     """
-    return getattr(help_entry, 'key', 'unknown_topic')
+    help_topic = getattr(help_entry, 'key', None)
+    # if object has no key, assume it is a db help entry.
+    if not help_topic:
+        help_topic = getattr(help_entry, 'db_key', 'unknown_topic')
+    # if one does not exist, create a key for ease of use with web views html templates
+    if not hasattr(help_entry, 'web_help_key'):
+        setattr(help_entry, 'web_help_key', slugify(help_topic))
+    return help_topic
 
 
 def can_read_topic(cmd_or_topic, account):