to reproduce: (package-initialize) (require 'evil) (setq testmap (make-sparse-keymap)) (define-key testmap (kbd "SPC") #'test) (evil-define-key 'motion global-map (kbd "SPC") testmap) (evil-mode) (describe-keymap global-map) This appears to be caused by keymap.c line 3313 SYMBOL_NAME (shadowed_by) where shadowed_by don't have to be a symbol (In this case its a keymap)