diff --git a/test/test_traversal.py b/test/test_traversal.py
index f1d123bd6..1c0cc5362 100644
--- a/test/test_traversal.py
+++ b/test/test_traversal.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from yt_dlp.utils import (
     determine_ext,
     dict_get,
     int_or_none,
+    join_nonempty,
     str_or_none,
 )
 from yt_dlp.utils.traversal import (
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ from yt_dlp.utils.traversal import (
     subs_list_to_dict,
     traverse_obj,
     trim_str,
+    unpack,
 )
 
 _TEST_DATA = {
@@ -510,6 +512,15 @@ class TestTraversalHelpers:
         assert trim_str(start='abc', end='abc')('abc') == ''
         assert trim_str(start='', end='')('abc') == 'abc'
 
+    def test_unpack(self):
+        assert unpack(lambda *x: ''.join(map(str, x)))([1, 2, 3]) == '123'
+        assert unpack(join_nonempty)([1, 2, 3]) == '1-2-3'
+        assert unpack(join_nonempty(delim=' '))([1, 2, 3]) == '1 2 3'
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            unpack(join_nonempty)()
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            unpack()
+
 
 class TestDictGet:
     def test_dict_get(self):
diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
index e30008e93..2f4c0a00f 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils/_utils.py
@@ -5294,6 +5294,7 @@ def make_archive_id(ie, video_id):
     return f'{ie_key.lower()} {video_id}'
 
 
+@partial_application
 def truncate_string(s, left, right=0):
     assert left > 3 and right >= 0
     if s is None or len(s) <= left + right:
diff --git a/yt_dlp/utils/traversal.py b/yt_dlp/utils/traversal.py
index dd9b4690b..bc313d5c4 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/utils/traversal.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/utils/traversal.py
@@ -449,6 +449,14 @@ def trim_str(*, start=None, end=None):
     return trim
 
 
+def unpack(func):
+    @functools.wraps(func)
+    def inner(items, **kwargs):
+        return func(*items, **kwargs)
+
+    return inner
+
+
 def get_first(obj, *paths, **kwargs):
     return traverse_obj(obj, *((..., *variadic(keys)) for keys in paths), **kwargs, get_all=False)