diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go b/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
index 92f14cde..5fbf3e7a 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ const (
 func createStringScalarNode(stringValue string) *CandidateNode {
 	var node = &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode}
 	node.Value = stringValue
-	node.Tag = "!!str"
+	if stringValue == "<<" {
+		node.Tag = "!!merge"
+	} else {
+		node.Tag = "!!str"
+	}
 	return node
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply.go
index 9db2c4f5..a09b7c49 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply.go
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func mergeObjects(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs
 
 		log.Debugf("going to applied assignment to LHS: %v with RHS: %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(candidate))
 
-		if candidate.Tag == "!!merge" {
+		if candidate.Tag == "!!merge" && !candidate.IsMapKey {
 			continue
 		}