diff --git a/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/HelperTextItem.tsx b/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/HelperTextItem.tsx
index 25812cc9ee1..0cb1a870581 100644
--- a/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/HelperTextItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/HelperTextItem.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ export interface HelperTextItemProps extends React.HTMLProps<HTMLDivElement | HT
 }
 
 const defaultVariantIcons = {
-  default: <></>,
   indeterminate: <MinusIcon />,
   warning: <ExclamationTriangleIcon />,
   success: <CheckCircleIcon />,
@@ -57,15 +56,16 @@ export const HelperTextItem: React.FunctionComponent<HelperTextItemProps> = ({
 }: HelperTextItemProps) => {
   const Component = component as any;
   const isNotDefaultVariant = variant !== 'default';
+  const defaultIcon = isNotDefaultVariant && defaultVariantIcons[variant];
   return (
     <Component
       className={css(styles.helperTextItem, isNotDefaultVariant && styles.modifiers[variant], className)}
       id={id}
       {...props}
     >
-      {(isNotDefaultVariant || icon) && (
+      {(defaultIcon || icon) && (
         <span className={css(styles.helperTextItemIcon)} aria-hidden>
-          {icon || defaultVariantIcons[variant]}
+          {icon || defaultIcon}
         </span>
       )}
 
diff --git a/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/examples/HelperText.md b/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/examples/HelperText.md
index 4c73fe3a04c..c9805fae7d6 100644
--- a/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/examples/HelperText.md
+++ b/packages/react-core/src/components/HelperText/examples/HelperText.md
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ import ExclamationIcon from '@patternfly/react-icons/dist/esm/icons/exclamation-
 
 ### Basic
 
-```ts file="HelperTextStatic.tsx"
+```ts file="HelperTextBasic.tsx"
 
 ```
 
 ### With custom icons
 
-```ts file="HelperTextStaticWithCustomIcon.tsx"
+```ts file="HelperTextWithCustomIcon.tsx"
 
 ```
 
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ import ExclamationIcon from '@patternfly/react-icons/dist/esm/icons/exclamation-
 
 You can pass multiple `<HelperTextItem>` components inside a single `<Helpertext>` container.
 
-```ts file="HelperTextMultipleStatic.tsx"
+```ts file="HelperTextMultipleItems.tsx"
 
 ```