diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
index 3bc8022a1741..21646745c737 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/libvirt/test_driver.py
@@ -3566,7 +3566,10 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
             mock_save.assert_called_with()
 
     def test_get_guest_config_with_vnc(self):
-        self.flags(enabled=True, group='vnc')
+        self.flags(enabled=True,
+                   vncserver_listen='10.0.0.1',
+                   keymap='en-ie',
+                   group='vnc')
         self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
         self.flags(pointer_model='ps2mouse')
         self.flags(enabled=False, group='spice')
@@ -3596,7 +3599,9 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
         self.assertIsInstance(cfg.devices[6],
                               vconfig.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon)
 
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].type, "vnc")
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].type, 'vnc')
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].keymap, 'en-ie')
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].listen, '10.0.0.1')
 
     def test_get_guest_config_with_vnc_and_tablet(self):
         self.flags(enabled=True, group='vnc')
@@ -3642,6 +3647,8 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
                    group='libvirt')
         self.flags(enabled=True,
                    agent_enabled=False,
+                   server_listen='10.0.0.1',
+                   keymap='en-ie',
                    group='spice')
 
         drvr = libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver(fake.FakeVirtAPI(), True)
@@ -3671,8 +3678,10 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
         self.assertIsInstance(cfg.devices[7],
                               vconfig.LibvirtConfigMemoryBalloon)
 
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].type, "tablet")
-        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[5].type, "spice")
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[4].type, 'tablet')
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[5].type, 'spice')
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[5].keymap, 'en-ie')
+        self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[5].listen, '10.0.0.1')
 
     def test_get_guest_config_with_spice_and_agent(self):
         self.flags(enabled=False, group='vnc')
@@ -3715,6 +3724,42 @@ class LibvirtConnTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase,
         self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[5].type, "spice")
         self.assertEqual(cfg.devices[6].type, "qxl")
 
+    def _test_get_guest_config_with_graphics(self):
+        drvr = libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver(fake.FakeVirtAPI(), True)
+        instance_ref = objects.Instance(**self.test_instance)
+        image_meta = objects.ImageMeta.from_dict(self.test_image_meta)
+
+        disk_info = blockinfo.get_disk_info(CONF.libvirt.virt_type,
+                                            instance_ref,
+                                            image_meta)
+        cfg = drvr._get_guest_config(instance_ref, [],
+                                     image_meta, disk_info)
+        return cfg.devices
+
+    def test_get_guest_config_with_vnc_no_keymap(self):
+        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(enabled=True, keymap=None, group='vnc')
+        self.flags(enabled=False, group='spice')
+        devices = self._test_get_guest_config_with_graphics()
+        for device in devices:
+            if device.root_name == 'graphics':
+                self.assertIsInstance(device,
+                                      vconfig.LibvirtConfigGuestGraphics)
+                self.assertEqual('vnc', device.type)
+                self.assertIsNone(device.keymap)
+
+    def test_get_guest_config_with_spice_no_keymap(self):
+        self.flags(virt_type='kvm', group='libvirt')
+        self.flags(enabled=True, keymap=None, group='spice')
+        self.flags(enabled=False, group='vnc')
+        devices = self._test_get_guest_config_with_graphics()
+        for device in devices:
+            if device.root_name == 'graphics':
+                self.assertIsInstance(device,
+                                      vconfig.LibvirtConfigGuestGraphics)
+                self.assertEqual('spice', device.type)
+                self.assertIsNone(device.keymap)
+
     @mock.patch.object(host.Host, 'get_guest')
     @mock.patch.object(libvirt_driver.LibvirtDriver,
                        '_get_serial_ports_from_guest')
diff --git a/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py b/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
index c124c9c4c7e0..a46b6a69d9b1 100644
--- a/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
+++ b/nova/virt/libvirt/driver.py
@@ -4950,14 +4950,22 @@ class LibvirtDriver(driver.ComputeDriver):
         if CONF.vnc.enabled and guest.virt_type not in ('lxc', 'uml'):
             graphics = vconfig.LibvirtConfigGuestGraphics()
             graphics.type = "vnc"
-            graphics.keymap = CONF.vnc.keymap
+            if CONF.vnc.keymap:
+                # TODO(stephenfin): There are some issues here that may
+                # necessitate deprecating this option entirely in the future.
+                # Refer to bug #1682020 for more information.
+                graphics.keymap = CONF.vnc.keymap
             graphics.listen = CONF.vnc.vncserver_listen
             guest.add_device(graphics)
             add_video_driver = True
         if CONF.spice.enabled and guest.virt_type not in ('lxc', 'uml', 'xen'):
             graphics = vconfig.LibvirtConfigGuestGraphics()
             graphics.type = "spice"
-            graphics.keymap = CONF.spice.keymap
+            if CONF.spice.keymap:
+                # TODO(stephenfin): There are some issues here that may
+                # necessitate deprecating this option entirely in the future.
+                # Refer to bug #1682020 for more information.
+                graphics.keymap = CONF.spice.keymap
             graphics.listen = CONF.spice.server_listen
             guest.add_device(graphics)
             add_video_driver = True
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/unsettable-keymap-settings-fa831c02e4158507.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/unsettable-keymap-settings-fa831c02e4158507.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..300684655de9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/unsettable-keymap-settings-fa831c02e4158507.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    It is now possible to unset the ``[vnc]keymap`` and ``[spice]keymap``
+    configuration options. These were known to cause issues for some users
+    with non-US keyboards and may be deprecated in the future.