diff --git a/base/ltcmd.dtx b/base/ltcmd.dtx
index 3dcff6c14..4c57c8538 100644
--- a/base/ltcmd.dtx
+++ b/base/ltcmd.dtx
@@ -3985,7 +3985,7 @@
   {
     \str_if_eq:eeTF
         { \exp_not:n {#2} }
-        { \exp_not:o { \exp_after:wN { \use:n #2 } } }
+        { { \exp_not:o { \use:n #2 } } }
       { \tl_set:Nn \ProcessedArgument { #1 = #2 } }
       {
         \exp_args:Ne \@@_arg_to_keyvalue_auxi:nnn