diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
index 6aea36168f..5594bbf2f1 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/rc_option_editor.cc
@@ -310,9 +310,7 @@ public:
 
 		for (int x = 0; modifiers[x].name; ++x) {
 			if (modifiers[x].modifier == Keyboard::edit_modifier ()) {
-				string lookup_str = "key|";
-				lookup_str += modifiers[x].name;
-				_edit_modifier_combo.set_active_text (S_(lookup_str.c_str()));
+				_edit_modifier_combo.set_active_text (S_(modifiers[x].name));
 				break;
 			}
 		}