diff --git a/src/screen.c b/src/screen.c
index 8c6dba1..ece886b 100644
--- a/src/screen.c
+++ b/src/screen.c
@@ -3580,7 +3580,7 @@
 		    if (area_attr == 0 && search_attr == 0)
 			char_attr = syntax_attr;
 		    else
-			char_attr = hl_combine_attr(char_attr, syntax_attr);
+			char_attr = hl_combine_attr(syntax_attr, char_attr);
 		}
 
 		/* Check spelling (unless at the end of the line).