diff --git a/runtime/ftplugin/vim.vim b/runtime/ftplugin/vim.vim
index de8a047..5feb152 100644
--- a/runtime/ftplugin/vim.vim
+++ b/runtime/ftplugin/vim.vim
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 " Vim filetype plugin
 " Language:	Vim
 " Maintainer:	Bram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>
-" Last Change:	2009 Jan 22
+" Last Change:	2012 Mar 21
 
 " Only do this when not done yet for this buffer
 if exists("b:did_ftplugin")
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@
 " and insert the comment leader when hitting <CR> or using "o".
 setlocal fo-=t fo+=croql
 
+" To make syntax highlighting of 'vimVar's work correctly we need the colon to
+" be part of keywords. This needs to be done prior to the 'isk+=#' below.
+setlocal isk+=:
+
 " To allow tag lookup via CTRL-] for autoload functions, '#' must be a
 " keyword character.  E.g., for netrw#Nread().
 setlocal isk+=#