diff --git a/src/core/prefs.c b/src/core/prefs.c
index c8e99ffef..5f68f09d0 100644
--- a/src/core/prefs.c
+++ b/src/core/prefs.c
@@ -1465,6 +1465,27 @@ button_layout_handler (GVariant *value,
   return TRUE;
 }
 
+static gboolean
+parse_special_key (const gchar  *string_value,
+                   MetaKeyCombo  combos[2])
+{
+  g_autofree gchar *string_value_l = NULL;
+  g_autofree gchar *string_value_r = NULL;
+
+  if (meta_parse_accelerator (string_value, &combos[0]))
+    return TRUE;
+
+  string_value_l = g_strconcat (string_value, "_L", NULL);
+  if (!meta_parse_accelerator (string_value_l, &combos[0]))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  string_value_r = g_strconcat (string_value, "_R", NULL);
+  if (!meta_parse_accelerator (string_value_r, &combos[1]))
+    return FALSE;
+
+  return TRUE;
+}
+
 static gboolean
 overlay_key_handler (GVariant *value,
                      gpointer *result,
@@ -1477,7 +1498,7 @@ overlay_key_handler (GVariant *value,
   *result = NULL; /* ignored */
   string_value = g_variant_get_string (value, NULL);
 
-  if (!string_value || !meta_parse_accelerator (string_value, &combos[0]))
+  if (!string_value || !parse_special_key (string_value, combos))
     {
       meta_topic (META_DEBUG_KEYBINDINGS,
                   "Failed to parse value for overlay-key");
@@ -1511,7 +1532,7 @@ locate_pointer_key_handler (GVariant *value,
   *result = NULL; /* ignored */
   string_value = g_variant_get_string (value, NULL);
 
-  if (!string_value || !meta_parse_accelerator (string_value, &combos[0]))
+  if (!string_value || !parse_special_key (string_value, combos))
     {
       meta_topic (META_DEBUG_KEYBINDINGS,
                   "Failed to parse value for locate-pointer-key");