diff --git a/picard/ui/colors.py b/picard/ui/colors.py
index 9eae48253..946e3f868 100644
--- a/picard/ui/colors.py
+++ b/picard/ui/colors.py
@@ -105,14 +105,14 @@ register_color(_LIGHT, 'first_cover_hl', 'darkgoldenrod')
 register_color(_DARK, 'first_cover_hl', 'orange')
 
 # syntax highlighting colors
-register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_error', 'blue')
+register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_error', 'red')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_escape', 'darkRed')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_func', 'blue')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_noop', 'darkGray')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_special', 'blue')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_unicode', 'darkRed')
 register_color(_LIGHT, 'syntax_hl_var', 'darkCyan')
-register_color(_DARK, 'syntax_hl_error', '#FF57A0')
+register_color(_DARK, 'syntax_hl_error', '#F16161')
 register_color(_DARK, 'syntax_hl_escape', '#4BEF1F')
 register_color(_DARK, 'syntax_hl_func', '#FF57A0')
 register_color(_DARK, 'syntax_hl_noop', '#04E7D5')