diff --git a/lib/rline.c b/lib/rline.c
index 2d9f7c62..30702663 100644
--- a/lib/rline.c
+++ b/lib/rline.c
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ int syn_esh_calculate(struct syntax_state * state) {
 		return 0;
 	} else if (find_keywords(state, shell_commands, FLAG_KEYWORD, esh_keyword_qualifier)) {
 		return 0;
-	} else if (isdigit(charat())) {
+	} else if (!c_keyword_qualifier(lastchar()) && isdigit(charat())) {
 		while (isdigit(charat())) paint(1, FLAG_NUMERAL);
 		return 0;
 	} else if (charat() != -1) {