I need separate modified and unmodified hotkeys. Should this work?

<hotkey a>
<sendlabel w1>
<key a>

<hotkey lalt a>
<sendlabel w2>
<key lalt a>

it seems the second one is being sent as an unmodied 'a'. Is this because the 'a' appears before the client gets a chance to notice the alt key?
So should it then be
<sendlabel w2>
<keydown lalt>
<wait 50>
<key a>
<keyup lalt>