diff --git a/lisp/use-package/bind-key.el b/lisp/use-package/bind-key.el
index 0e2d843a09a..65f40f7901a 100644
--- a/lisp/use-package/bind-key.el
+++ b/lisp/use-package/bind-key.el
@@ -271,7 +271,8 @@ function symbol (unquoted)."
       elem)))
    ;; must be a symbol, non-symbol keymap case covered above
    ((and bind-key-describe-special-forms (keymapp elem))
-    (get elem 'variable-documentation))
+    (let ((doc (get elem 'variable-documentation)))
+      (if (stringp doc) doc elem)))
    ((symbolp elem)
     elem)
    (t