1 files changed, 24 insertions, 11 deletions

diff --git a/src/nvim/highlight_group.c b/src/nvim/highlight_group.c
index a954c14924..5d9148e992 100644
--- a/src/nvim/highlight_group.c
+++ b/src/nvim/highlight_group.c
@@ -1988,18 +1988,23 @@ static int syn_add_group(const char *name, size_t len)
 /// @see syn_attr2entry
 int syn_id2attr(int hl_id)
 {
-  return syn_ns_id2attr(-1, hl_id, false);
+  bool optional = false;
+  return syn_ns_id2attr(-1, hl_id, &optional);
 }
 
-int syn_ns_id2attr(int ns_id, int hl_id, bool optional)
+int syn_ns_id2attr(int ns_id, int hl_id, bool *optional)
+  FUNC_ATTR_NONNULL_ALL
 {
-  hl_id = syn_ns_get_final_id(&ns_id, hl_id);
+  if (syn_ns_get_final_id(&ns_id, &hl_id)) {
+    // If the namespace explicitly defines a group to be empty, it is not optional
+    *optional = false;
+  }
   HlGroup *sgp = &hl_table[hl_id - 1];  // index is ID minus one
 
   int attr = ns_get_hl(&ns_id, hl_id, false, sgp->sg_set);
 
   // if a highlight group is optional, don't use the global value
-  if (attr >= 0 || (optional && ns_id > 0)) {
+  if (attr >= 0 || (*optional && ns_id > 0)) {
     return attr;
   }
   return sgp->sg_attr;
@@ -2008,16 +2013,20 @@ int syn_ns_id2attr(int ns_id, int hl_id, bool optional)
 /// Translate a group ID to the final group ID (following links).
 int syn_get_final_id(int hl_id)
 {
-  int id = curwin->w_ns_hl_active;
-  return syn_ns_get_final_id(&id, hl_id);
+  int ns_id = curwin->w_ns_hl_active;
+  syn_ns_get_final_id(&ns_id, &hl_id);
+  return hl_id;
 }
 
-int syn_ns_get_final_id(int *ns_id, int hl_id)
+bool syn_ns_get_final_id(int *ns_id, int *hl_idp)
 {
   int count;
+  int hl_id = *hl_idp;
+  bool used = false;
 
   if (hl_id > highlight_ga.ga_len || hl_id < 1) {
-    return 0;  // Can be called from eval!!
+    *hl_idp = 0;
+    return false;  // Can be called from eval!!
   }
 
   // Follow links until there is no more.
@@ -2030,8 +2039,10 @@ int syn_ns_get_final_id(int *ns_id, int hl_id)
     // syn_id2attr time
     int check = ns_get_hl(ns_id, hl_id, true, sgp->sg_set);
     if (check == 0) {
-      return hl_id;  // how dare! it broke the link!
+      *hl_idp = hl_id;
+      return true;  // how dare! it broke the link!
     } else if (check > 0) {
+      used = true;
       hl_id = check;
       continue;
     }
@@ -2045,7 +2056,8 @@ int syn_ns_get_final_id(int *ns_id, int hl_id)
     }
   }
 
-  return hl_id;
+  *hl_idp = hl_id;
+  return used;
 }
 
 /// Refresh the color attributes of all highlight groups.
@@ -2128,7 +2140,8 @@ void highlight_changed(void)
       abort();
     }
     int ns_id = -1;
-    int final_id = syn_ns_get_final_id(&ns_id, id);
+    int final_id = id;
+    syn_ns_get_final_id(&ns_id, &final_id);
     if (hlf == HLF_SNC) {
       id_SNC = final_id;
     } else if (hlf == HLF_S) {