Corolla occasionally doesn't turn on with key turn

Every once in a while, my corolla doesn't show any sign of life, either the
engine or the electronics, when I get in and try to start it with the key. Every
time, I scramble for a second until I remember that if I press the key's unlock
or lock button, for some reason, will make the key work as it should, even if I
had just used the button to get in. This works well enough for the time being,
but I worry what this might mean for my vehicle should an emergency arise.