diff --git a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/edtlib.py b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/edtlib.py
index a2ef70e5aa9..9e7dc1baaac 100644
--- a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/edtlib.py
+++ b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/edtlib.py
@@ -1552,7 +1552,7 @@ class PinCtrl:
     @property
     def name_as_token(self):
         "See the class docstring"
-        return _val_as_token(self.name) if self.name is not None else None
+        return str_as_token(self.name) if self.name is not None else None
 
     def __repr__(self):
         fields = []
@@ -1645,7 +1645,7 @@ class Property:
     @property
     def val_as_token(self):
         "See the class docstring"
-        return _val_as_token(self.val)
+        return str_as_token(self.val)
 
     @property
     def enum_index(self):
@@ -2929,7 +2929,12 @@ _LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 _NOT_ALPHANUM_OR_UNDERSCORE = re.compile(r'\W', re.ASCII)
 
 
-def _val_as_token(val):
+def str_as_token(val):
+    """Return a canonical representation of a string as a C token.
+
+    This converts special characters in 'val' to underscores, and
+    returns the result."""
+
     return re.sub(_NOT_ALPHANUM_OR_UNDERSCORE, '_', val)