diff --git a/lisp/keymap.el b/lisp/keymap.el
index 791221f2459..48ec91d03c8 100644
--- a/lisp/keymap.el
+++ b/lisp/keymap.el
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ keymap-local-set
   (let ((map (current-local-map)))
     (unless map
       (use-local-map (setq map (make-sparse-keymap))))
+    (unless (stringp key)
+      (setq key (key-description key)))
     (keymap-set map key command)))

 (defun keymap-global-unset (key &optional remove)