diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 6b90190..0d9cd2c 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -516,13 +516,13 @@
      */
     if (syn_block != wp->w_s
 	    || syn_buf != wp->w_buffer
-	    || changedtick != *syn_buf->b_changedtick)
+	    || changedtick != CHANGEDTICK(syn_buf))
     {
 	invalidate_current_state();
 	syn_buf = wp->w_buffer;
 	syn_block = wp->w_s;
     }
-    changedtick = *syn_buf->b_changedtick;
+    changedtick = CHANGEDTICK(syn_buf);
     syn_win = wp;
 
     /*