diff --git a/lib/src/revset.rs b/lib/src/revset.rs
index 43200d532c..d0161b8f01 100644
--- a/lib/src/revset.rs
+++ b/lib/src/revset.rs
@@ -1478,16 +1478,8 @@ fn parse_function_argument_to_string_pattern(
             else {
                 return Err(make_type_error());
             };
-            match kind.as_ref() {
-                "exact" => StringPattern::Exact(needle.clone()),
-                "substring" => StringPattern::Substring(needle.clone()),
-                _ => {
-                    // TODO: error span can be narrowed to the lhs node
-                    return Err(make_error(format!(
-                        r#"Invalid string pattern kind "{kind}""#
-                    )));
-                }
-            }
+            // TODO: error span can be narrowed to the lhs node
+            StringPattern::from_str_kind(needle, kind).map_err(|err| make_error(err.to_string()))?
         }
         _ => return Err(make_type_error()),
     };
diff --git a/lib/src/str_util.rs b/lib/src/str_util.rs
index e7b6cf67f0..8b3d4841ac 100644
--- a/lib/src/str_util.rs
+++ b/lib/src/str_util.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@
 
 //! String helpers.
 
+use thiserror::Error;
+
+/// Error occurred during pattern string parsing.
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum StringPatternParseError {
+    /// Unknown pattern kind is specified.
+    #[error(r#"Invalid string pattern kind "{0}""#)]
+    InvalidKind(String),
+}
+
 /// Pattern to be tested against string property like commit description or
 /// branch name.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
@@ -30,6 +40,15 @@ impl StringPattern {
         StringPattern::Substring(String::new())
     }
 
+    /// Parses the given string as pattern of the specified `kind`.
+    pub fn from_str_kind(src: &str, kind: &str) -> Result<Self, StringPatternParseError> {
+        match kind {
+            "exact" => Ok(StringPattern::Exact(src.to_owned())),
+            "substring" => Ok(StringPattern::Substring(src.to_owned())),
+            _ => Err(StringPatternParseError::InvalidKind(kind.to_owned())),
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Returns a literal pattern if this should match input strings exactly.
     ///
     /// This can be used to optimize map lookup by exact key.