diff --git a/test/lisp/ses-tests.el b/test/lisp/ses-tests.el
index d74221ef674..c4532105e9f 100644
--- a/test/lisp/ses-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/ses-tests.el
@@ -267,16 +267,18 @@ cell has to be rewritten to data area."
 (defmacro ert-play-keys (&rest keys)
   (let ((buf (make-symbol "buf")))
     `(let ((,buf (current-buffer)))
-       (funcall
-        (kmacro (concat
-                 "M-: ( p o p - t o - b u f f e r SPC \" "
-                 ,`(mapconcat (lambda (x)
-                                (cond
-                                 ((= x 32) "SPC")
-                                 (t (string x))))
-                              (buffer-name ,buf) " ")
-                 " \" ) RET "
-                 ,@keys))))))
+       (execute-kbd-macro
+        (kmacro--keys
+         (kmacro
+          (concat
+           "M-: ( p o p - t o - b u f f e r SPC \" "
+           ,`(mapconcat (lambda (x)
+                          (cond
+                           ((= x 32) "SPC")
+                           (t (string x))))
+                        (buffer-name ,buf) " ")
+           " \" ) RET "
+           ,@keys)))))))
 
 
 (ert-deftest ses-read-column-printer ()