diff --git a/src/nsmenu.m b/src/nsmenu.m
index 636b71cf308..9a97492e751 100644
--- a/src/nsmenu.m
+++ b/src/nsmenu.m
@@ -636,8 +636,11 @@ name_is_separator (name)
         title = @"< ? >";  /* (get out in the open so we know about it) */
 
       keyEq = [self parseKeyEquiv: wv->key];
+#ifdef NS_IMPL_COCOA
+      /* OS X just ignores modifier strings longer than one character */
       if (keyEquivModMask == 0)
         title = [title stringByAppendingFormat: @" (%@)", keyEq];
+#endif
 
       item = [self addItemWithTitle: (NSString *)title
                              action: @selector (menuDown:)