diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 81e9acd..4adbaf0 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -8082,7 +8082,7 @@
 	|| do_tooltip
 #  endif
 	    )
-	if (free_fontset)
+	if (free_font)
 	    gui_mch_free_fontset(HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_fontset);
 	HL_TABLE()[idx].sg_fontset = fontset_name2handle(arg, 0
 #  ifdef FONTSET_ALWAYS