diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
index 4a131f0a5..416dcd86f 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ fn visit_seq<S>(self, mut seq: S) -> Result<Self::Value, S::Error>
         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>()