diff --git a/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh b/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh
index b708a7c..d1470b8 100644
--- a/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh
+++ b/zsh-syntax-highlighting.zsh
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ _zsh_highlight_apply_zle_highlight() {
   integer first="$3" second="$4"
 
   # read the relevant entry from zle_highlight
-  local region="${zle_highlight[(r)${entry}:*]-}"
+  local region="${zle_highlight[(r)${(b)entry}:*]-}"
 
   if [[ -z "$region" ]]; then
     # entry not specified at all, use default value