diff --git a/impls/nim/types.nim b/impls/nim/types.nim
index 0618a247..a5a8ec33 100644
--- a/impls/nim/types.nim
+++ b/impls/nim/types.nim
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ proc symbol_q*(xs: varargs[MalType]): MalType {.procvar.} =
   boolObj xs[0].kind == Symbol
 
 proc keyword*(xs: varargs[MalType]): MalType {.procvar.} =
-  keyword(xs[0].str)
+  if 0 < xs[0].str.len and xs[0].str[0] == '\xff': xs[0]
+  else: keyword(xs[0].str)
 
 proc keyword_q*(xs: varargs[MalType]): MalType {.procvar.} =
   boolObj(xs[0].kind == String and xs[0].str.len > 0 and xs[0].str[0] == '\xff')