diff --git a/lib/chibi/optional.scm b/lib/chibi/optional.scm
index 35b7c79b..003d59b0 100644
--- a/lib/chibi/optional.scm
+++ b/lib/chibi/optional.scm
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
      (let ((tmp (op . args)))
        (let-keywords* tmp vars . body)))
     ((let-keywords* opt-ls ((var default) . rest) . body)
-     (let ((var (keyword-ref opt-ls var default)))
+     (let ((var (keyword-ref opt-ls 'var default)))
        (let-keywords* opt-ls rest . body)))
     ((let-keywords* opt-ls ((var key default) . rest) . body)
-     (let ((var (keyword-ref opt-ls key default)))
+     (let ((var (keyword-ref opt-ls 'key default)))
        (let-keywords* opt-ls rest . body)))
     ((let-keywords* opt-ls tail . body)
      (let ((tail opt-ls)) . body))))