diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
index 4a131f0a5217..416dcd86f73d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ impl<'de> serde::de::Visitor<'de> for KeyTrieVisitor {
         S: serde::de::SeqAccess<'de>,
     {
         let mut commands = Vec::new();
-        while let Some(command) = seq.next_element::<&str>()? {
+        while let Some(command) = seq.next_element::<String>()? {
             commands.push(
                 command
                     .parse::<MappableCommand>()