diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index b385d1a..e37dacb 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -6342,9 +6342,11 @@
     if (old_value != NULL)
 	old_value = vim_strsave(old_value);
 
+#ifdef FEAT_AUTOCMD
     /* Apply the "syntax" autocommand event, this finds and loads the syntax
      * file. */
     apply_autocmds(EVENT_SYNTAX, eap->arg, curbuf->b_fname, TRUE, curbuf);
+#endif
 
     /* move value of b:current_syntax to w:current_syntax */
     new_value = get_var_value((char_u *)"b:current_syntax");