diff --git a/runtime/queries/c/highlights.scm b/runtime/queries/c/highlights.scm
index c0f5763ac6bb..fe5dacafed53 100644
--- a/runtime/queries/c/highlights.scm
+++ b/runtime/queries/c/highlights.scm
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@
   (preproc_directive)
 ] @keyword.directive
 
+(pointer_declarator "*" @type.builtin)
+(abstract_pointer_declarator "*" @type.builtin)
+
 [
   "+"
   "-"
diff --git a/runtime/queries/cpp/highlights.scm b/runtime/queries/cpp/highlights.scm
index 11877a761cc0..7bfccf72a263 100644
--- a/runtime/queries/cpp/highlights.scm
+++ b/runtime/queries/cpp/highlights.scm
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
 (auto) @type
 "decltype" @type
 
+(ref_qualifier ["&" "&&"] @type.builtin)
+(reference_declarator ["&" "&&"] @type.builtin)
+(abstract_reference_declarator ["&" "&&"] @type.builtin)
+
 ; Constants
 
 (this) @variable.builtin