diff --git a/README.org b/README.org
index 68b40890..bc06a316 100644
--- a/README.org
+++ b/README.org
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ This evil-collection package includes a lot of other evil based things.
   :after evil
   :init (evil-escape-mode +1)
   :config
-  (setq evil-escape-key-sequence "fd"
+  (setq evil-escape-key-sequence (kbd "fd")
         evil-escape-delay 0.3))
 #+end_src
 
diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index d3af5882..f5529c35 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@
   :after evil
   :init (evil-escape-mode +1)
   :config
-  (setq evil-escape-key-sequence "fd"
+  (setq evil-escape-key-sequence (kbd "fd")
         evil-escape-delay 0.3))
 
 (use-package evil-surround