diff --git a/styles/src/themes/common/colorScheme.ts b/styles/src/themes/common/colorScheme.ts
index ad2de9b62d..91e8f5a020 100644
--- a/styles/src/themes/common/colorScheme.ts
+++ b/styles/src/themes/common/colorScheme.ts
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ export interface Syntax {
     "type.builtin": SyntaxHighlightStyle
 
     // == Values
-
+    variable: SyntaxHighlightStyle,
     // racket: lang_name
     "variable.builtin": SyntaxHighlightStyle
     // this, ...
diff --git a/styles/src/themes/common/syntax.ts b/styles/src/themes/common/syntax.ts
index 9c0b61447e..a1c82ec7e9 100644
--- a/styles/src/themes/common/syntax.ts
+++ b/styles/src/themes/common/syntax.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ function buildDefaultSyntax(colorScheme: ColorScheme): Syntax {
         "type.builtin": {
             color: color.type,
         },
+        variable: {
+            color: color.primary,
+        },
         "variable.builtin": {
             color: colorScheme.ramps.blue(0.5).hex(),
         },