diff --git a/core/commands/dht.go b/core/commands/dht.go
index 8c77b0235..4319b15da 100644
--- a/core/commands/dht.go
+++ b/core/commands/dht.go
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ func escapeDhtKey(s string) (key.Key, error) {
 		return key.B58KeyDecode(s), nil
 	case 3:
 		k := key.B58KeyDecode(parts[2])
-		return key.Key(path.Join(append(parts[:2], k.String()))), nil
+		return key.Key(path.Join(append(parts[:2], string(k)))), nil
 	default:
 		return "", errors.New("invalid key")
 	}
diff --git a/core/commands/dht_test.go b/core/commands/dht_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf75aff98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/commands/dht_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/namesys"
+	tu "github.com/ipfs/go-ipfs/thirdparty/testutil"
+)
+
+func TestKeyTranslation(t *testing.T) {
+	pid := tu.RandPeerIDFatal(t)
+	a, b := namesys.IpnsKeysForID(pid)
+
+	pkk, err := escapeDhtKey("/pk/" + pid.Pretty())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	ipnsk, err := escapeDhtKey("/ipns/" + pid.Pretty())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if pkk != a {
+		t.Fatal("keys didnt match!")
+	}
+
+	if ipnsk != b {
+		t.Fatal("keys didnt match!")
+	}
+}