diff --git a/runtime/queries/zsh/highlights.scm b/runtime/queries/zsh/highlights.scm
index bbf46bcde..ba1be21c5 100644
--- a/runtime/queries/zsh/highlights.scm
+++ b/runtime/queries/zsh/highlights.scm
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
 (file_descriptor) @operator
 
 (variable_ref
-  ("$" @punctuation.special)) 
+  "$" @punctuation.special) 
 
 (expansion
   "${" @punctuation.special