diff --git a/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py b/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
index a2eef47c7..754f6672f 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/keyinput/basekeyparser.py
@@ -326,17 +326,21 @@ class BaseKeyParser(QObject):
         self.special_bindings = {}
         keyconfparser = objreg.get('key-config')
         for (key, cmd) in keyconfparser.get_bindings_for(modename).items():
-            if not cmd:
-                continue
-            elif key.startswith('<') and key.endswith('>'):
-                keystr = utils.normalize_keystr(key[1:-1])
-                self.special_bindings[keystr] = cmd
-            elif self._supports_chains:
-                self.bindings[key] = cmd
-            elif self._warn_on_keychains:
-                log.keyboard.warning(
-                    "Ignoring keychain '{}' in mode '{}' because "
-                    "keychains are not supported there.".format(key, modename))
+            if cmd:
+                self._parse_key_command(modename, key, cmd)
+
+    def _parse_key_command(self, modename, key, cmd):
+        """Parse the keys and their command and store them in the object."""
+        if key.startswith('<') and key.endswith('>'):
+            keystr = utils.normalize_keystr(key[1:-1])
+            self.special_bindings[keystr] = cmd
+        elif self._supports_chains:
+            self.bindings[key] = cmd
+        elif self._warn_on_keychains:
+            log.keyboard.warning(
+                "Ignoring keychain '{}' in mode '{}' because "
+                "keychains are not supported there."
+                .format(key, modename))
 
     def execute(self, cmdstr, keytype, count=None):
         """Handle a completed keychain.
diff --git a/tests/unit/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py b/tests/unit/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
index 50be9aefd..0ebab9f9b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
+++ b/tests/unit/keyinput/test_basekeyparser.py
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ class TestReadConfig:
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
             kp.read_config()
 
+    def test_read_config_no_modename(self):
+        """Test reading config with _modename set."""
+        kp = basekeyparser.BaseKeyParser(0, supports_chains=True)
+        kp._modename = "normal"
+        kp.read_config(modename=None)
+        assert 'a' in kp.bindings
+
     def test_read_config_valid(self):
         """Test reading config."""
         kp = basekeyparser.BaseKeyParser(0, supports_count=True,