diff --git a/texinfo.tex b/texinfo.tex
index 759e3c12..76144657 100644
--- a/texinfo.tex
+++ b/texinfo.tex
@@ -1197,7 +1197,7 @@ where each line of input produces a line of output.}
 \def\key#1{{\smallrm\textfont2=\smallsy \leavevmode\hbox{%
   \raise0.4pt\hbox{$\langle$}\kern-.08em\vtop{%
     \vbox{\hrule\kern-0.4pt
-     \hbox{\raise0.4pt\hbox{\vphantom{$\langle$}}\uppercase{#1}}}%
+     \hbox{\raise0.4pt\hbox{\vphantom{$\langle$}}#1}}%
     \kern-0.4pt\hrule}%
   \kern-.06em\raise0.4pt\hbox{$\rangle$}}}}
 %\def\key #1{{\ttsl \nohyphenation \uppercase{#1}}\null}