diff --git a/src/core/Mu.pm b/src/core/Mu.pm
index f123489..896630e 100644
--- a/src/core/Mu.pm
+++ b/src/core/Mu.pm
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ Please refactor this code using the new Iterator / Seq interface.
     method gistseen(Mu:D \SELF: $id, $gist, *%named) {
         if $*gistseen -> \sems {
             my str $WHICH = nqp::unbox_s(self.WHICH);
-            if nqp::atkey(sems,$WHICH) {
+            if sems<$WHICH> {
                 nqp::bindkey(sems,$WHICH,2);
                 "{$id}_{nqp::objectid(SELF)}";
             }
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ Please refactor this code using the new Iterator / Seq interface.
     method perlseen(Mu:D \SELF: $id, $perl, *%named) {
         if $*perlseen -> \sems {
             my str $WHICH = nqp::unbox_s(self.WHICH);
-            if nqp::atkey(sems,$WHICH) {
+            if sems<$WHICH> {
                 nqp::bindkey(sems,$WHICH,2);
                 "{$id}_{nqp::objectid(SELF)}";
             }