diff --git a/lisp/keymap.el b/lisp/keymap.el
index 791221f2459..9643dce5f9c 100644
--- a/lisp/keymap.el
+++ b/lisp/keymap.el
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ keymap-local-set
 cases is shared with all other buffers in the same major mode."
   (declare (compiler-macro (lambda (form) (keymap--compile-check key) form)))
   (interactive "KSet key locally: \nCSet key %s locally to command: ")
-  (let ((map (current-local-map)))
+  (let ((map (current-local-map))
+	(key (key-description key)))
     (unless map
       (use-local-map (setq map (make-sparse-keymap))))
     (keymap-set map key command)))