diff --git a/src/if_perl.xs b/src/if_perl.xs
index 8936838..d67645c 100644
--- a/src/if_perl.xs
+++ b/src/if_perl.xs
@@ -1387,11 +1387,8 @@
 {
     PerlIOVim *s = PerlIOSelf(f, PerlIOVim);
     s->attr = 0;
-    if (arg && SvPOK(arg)) {
-	int id = syn_name2id((char_u *)SvPV_nolen(arg));
-	if (id != 0)
-	    s->attr = syn_id2attr(id);
-    }
+    if (arg && SvPOK(arg))
+	s->attr = syn_name2attr((char_u *)SvPV_nolen(arg));
     return PerlIOBase_pushed(aTHX_ f, mode, (SV *)NULL, tab);
 }
 
@@ -1482,11 +1479,7 @@
     {
 	attr = 0;
 	if (hl != NULL)
-	{
-	    id = syn_name2id((char_u *)hl);
-	    if (id != 0)
-		attr = syn_id2attr(id);
-	}
+	    attr = syn_name2attr((char_u *)hl);
 	msg_split((char_u *)text, attr);
     }