diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/fortran.el b/lisp/progmodes/fortran.el
index 7ce4d7b810a..2b2428b3977 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/fortran.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/fortran.el
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ Any other key combination is executed normally."
     (if (or (= (setq c (read-char)) ??)	;insert char if not equal to `?'
 	    (= c help-char))
 	(fortran-abbrev-help)
-      (setq unread-command-char c))))
+      (setq unread-command-event c))))
 
 (defun fortran-abbrev-help ()
   "List the currently defined abbrevs in Fortran mode."
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ See also `fortran-window-create'."
 	    (progn (message "Type SPC to continue editing.")
 		   (let ((char (read-char)))
 		     (or (equal char (string-to-char " "))
-			 (setq unread-command-char char))))))
+			 (setq unread-command-event char))))))
     (fortran-window-create)))
 
 (defun fortran-split-line ()