diff --git a/src/keysym.c b/src/keysym.c
index 2c8eb06cb..1df6bd5bf 100644
--- a/src/keysym.c
+++ b/src/keysym.c
@@ -248,10 +248,13 @@ xkb_keysym_from_name(const char *name, enum xkb_keysym_flags flags)
 
 /*
  * Check whether a keysym with code "keysym" and name "name" is deprecated.
- * If so, and if there is a non-deprecated name for the given keysym, then write
- * it in "reference_name", else write NULL.
- * If "name" is NULL, then just check if there is some non-deprecated name for
- * "keysym".
+ * • If the keysym is not deprecated itself and has no deprecated names,
+ *   then return false and write NULL in "reference_name".
+ * • If there is a non-deprecated name for the given keysym, then write this
+ *   name in "reference_name", else write NULL and return true.
+ * • If "name" is NULL, then returns false: the keysym itself is not deprecated.
+ * • If "name" is not NULL, then returns whether "name" and "reference_name"
+ *   are different.
  *
  * WARNING: this function is unsafe because it does not test if "name" is
  * actually a correct name for "keysym". It is intended to be used just after
@@ -292,20 +295,10 @@ xkb_keysym_is_deprecated(xkb_keysym_t keysym,
                 return true;
             } else {
                 /* There is a reference name that is not deprecated */
-                if (keysym_format != XKB_KEYSYM_FORMAT_NAME || name == NULL) {
-                    /* No name given: just indicate not deprecated */
-                    *reference_name = NULL;
-                    return false;
-                } else {
-                    /* Check if the given name is the reference one */
-                    *reference_name = get_name(&deprecated_keysyms[mid]);
-                    if (strcmp(name, *reference_name) == 0) {
-                        *reference_name = NULL;
-                        return false;
-                    } else {
-                        return true;
-                    }
-                }
+                *reference_name = get_name(&deprecated_keysyms[mid]);
+                /* If there is no name given: just indicate not deprecated;
+                 * else check if the given name is the reference one */
+                return (name != NULL && strcmp(name, *reference_name) != 0);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/xkbcomp/parser.y b/src/xkbcomp/parser.y
index 235ffb8ab..8cd41a769 100644
--- a/src/xkbcomp/parser.y
+++ b/src/xkbcomp/parser.y
@@ -774,14 +774,12 @@ KeySym          :       IDENT
 
                                     if (unlikely(param->ctx->log_verbosity >= XKB_MIN_VERBOSITY_DEPRECATED_KEYSYM)) {
 
-                                    // [FIXME] ref_name is never used: change API to allow NULL??
                                     const char *ref_name = NULL;
                                     if (xkb_keysym_is_deprecated($$, XKB_KEYSYM_FORMAT_NUMERIC, NULL, &ref_name)) {
                                         if (ref_name == NULL) {
                                             parser_warn(param, XKB_WARNING_DEPRECATED_KEYSYM,
                                                         "deprecated keysym \"0x%"PRIx64"\"", $1);
                                         } else {
-                                            // [FIXME] currently dead code
                                             parser_warn(param, XKB_WARNING_DEPRECATED_KEYSYM,
                                                 "deprecated keysym \"0x%"PRIx64"\"; please use \"%s\"",
                                                 $1, ref_name);