diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/parsers/keyconf.py b/qutebrowser/config/parsers/keyconf.py
index e602c33d5..3a658c4b1 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/parsers/keyconf.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/parsers/keyconf.py
@@ -280,6 +280,9 @@ class KeyConfigParser(QObject):
         A binding is considered new if both the command is not bound to any key
         yet, and the key isn't used anywhere else in the same section.
         """
+        if utils.is_special_key(keychain):
+            keychain = keychain.lower()
+
         try:
             bindings = self.keybindings[sectname]
         except KeyError: