diff --git a/src/highlight.c b/src/highlight.c
index 0175079..8574502 100644
--- a/src/highlight.c
+++ b/src/highlight.c
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@
     char_u	*sg_gui_sp_name;// GUI special color name
 #endif
     int		sg_link;	// link to this highlight group ID
+    int		sg_deflink;	// default link; restored in highlight_clear()
     int		sg_set;		// combination of SG_* flags
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
     sctx_T	sg_script_ctx;	// script in which the group was last set
@@ -715,6 +716,7 @@
 	char_u	    *to_end;
 	int	    from_id;
 	int	    to_id;
+	hl_group_T  *hlgroup = NULL;
 
 	from_end = skiptowhite(from_start);
 	to_start = skipwhite(from_end);
@@ -740,7 +742,14 @@
 	else
 	    to_id = syn_check_group(to_start, (int)(to_end - to_start));
 
-	if (from_id > 0 && (!init || HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_set == 0))
+	if (from_id > 0)
+	{
+	    hlgroup = &HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1];
+	    if (dodefault && (forceit || hlgroup->sg_deflink == 0))
+		hlgroup->sg_deflink = to_id;
+	}
+
+	if (from_id > 0 && (!init || hlgroup->sg_set == 0))
 	{
 	    /*
 	     * Don't allow a link when there already is some highlighting
@@ -752,21 +761,20 @@
 		if (SOURCING_NAME == NULL && !dodefault)
 		    emsg(_("E414: group has settings, highlight link ignored"));
 	    }
-	    else if (HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_link != to_id
+	    else if (hlgroup->sg_link != to_id
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
-		    || HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_script_ctx.sc_sid
-							 != current_sctx.sc_sid
+		    || hlgroup->sg_script_ctx.sc_sid != current_sctx.sc_sid
 #endif
-		    || HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_cleared)
+		    || hlgroup->sg_cleared)
 	    {
 		if (!init)
-		    HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_set |= SG_LINK;
-		HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_link = to_id;
+		    hlgroup->sg_set |= SG_LINK;
+		hlgroup->sg_link = to_id;
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
-		HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_script_ctx = current_sctx;
-		HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_script_ctx.sc_lnum += SOURCING_LNUM;
+		hlgroup->sg_script_ctx = current_sctx;
+		hlgroup->sg_script_ctx.sc_lnum += SOURCING_LNUM;
 #endif
-		HL_TABLE()[from_id - 1].sg_cleared = FALSE;
+		hlgroup->sg_cleared = FALSE;
 		redraw_all_later(SOME_VALID);
 
 		// Only call highlight_changed() once after multiple changes.
@@ -1684,6 +1692,8 @@
     HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_gui_attr = 0;
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
+    // Restore any default link.
+    HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_link = HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_deflink;
     // Clear the script ID only when there is no link, since that is not
     // cleared.
     if (HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_link == 0)