diff --git a/data/core/syntax.lua b/data/core/syntax.lua
index 977983c1..6fe8984a 100644
--- a/data/core/syntax.lua
+++ b/data/core/syntax.lua
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ local function find(string, field)
 end
 
 function syntax.get(filename, header)
-  return find(filename, "files")
+  return find(common.basename(filename), "files")
       or (header and find(header, "headers"))
       or plain_text_syntax
 end