diff --git a/src/message_handler.cc b/src/message_handler.cc
index 498a72deb..50dedf73c 100644
--- a/src/message_handler.cc
+++ b/src/message_handler.cc
@@ -356,6 +356,13 @@ void emitSemanticHighlight(DB *db, WorkingFile *wfile, QueryFile &file) {
           break;
         }
       }
+      // this should always be true:
+      if (parent_kind == SymbolKind::Unknown) {
+        VarDef const *any_def = var.anyDef();
+        if (any_def) {
+          parent_kind = any_def->parent_kind;
+        }
+      }
       break;
     }
     default: