diff --git a/src/color.c b/src/color.c
index bcf2f2cf..88254b01 100644
--- a/src/color.c
+++ b/src/color.c
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ void check_the_multis(linestruct *line)
 	char *afterstart;
 
 	/* If there is no syntax or no multiline regex, there is nothing to do. */
-	if (openfile->syntax == NULL || openfile->syntax->nmultis == 0)
+	if (!openfile->syntax || openfile->syntax->multiscore == 0)
 		return;
 
 	if (line->multidata == NULL) {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void precalc_multicolorinfo(void)
 	regmatch_t startmatch, endmatch;
 	linestruct *line, *tailline;
 
-	if (!openfile->syntax || openfile->syntax->nmultis == 0 || ISSET(NO_SYNTAX))
+	if (!openfile->syntax || openfile->syntax->multiscore == 0 || ISSET(NO_SYNTAX))
 		return;
 
 //#define TIMEPRECALC  123
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ void precalc_multicolorinfo(void)
 	/* For each line, allocate cache space for the multiline-regex info. */
 	for (line = openfile->filetop; line != NULL; line = line->next)
 		if (!line->multidata)
-			line->multidata = nmalloc(openfile->syntax->nmultis * sizeof(short));
+			line->multidata = nmalloc(openfile->syntax->multiscore * sizeof(short));
 
 	for (ink = openfile->syntax->color; ink != NULL; ink = ink->next) {
 		/* If this is not a multi-line regex, skip it. */
diff --git a/src/definitions.h b/src/definitions.h
index 86eeae35..5d6cb47b 100644
--- a/src/definitions.h
+++ b/src/definitions.h
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ typedef struct syntaxtype {
 #endif
 	colortype *color;
 		/* The colors and their regexes used in this syntax. */
-	short nmultis;
+	short multiscore;
 		/* How many multiline regex strings this syntax has. */
 	struct syntaxtype *next;
 		/* Next syntax. */
diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index bca18f3e..4c0c19be 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -1518,7 +1518,7 @@ void inject(char *burst, size_t count)
 	if (thisline == openfile->filebot && !ISSET(NO_NEWLINES)) {
 		new_magicline();
 #ifdef ENABLE_COLOR
-		if (margin || (openfile->syntax && openfile->syntax->nmultis))
+		if (margin || (openfile->syntax && openfile->syntax->multiscore))
 #else
 		if (margin)
 #endif
diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index 75edb290..3f94e155 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ void begin_new_syntax(char *ptr)
 	live_syntax->comment = copy_of(GENERAL_COMMENT_CHARACTER);
 #endif
 	live_syntax->color = NULL;
-	live_syntax->nmultis = 0;
+	live_syntax->multiscore = 0;
 
 	/* Hook the new syntax in at the top of the list. */
 	live_syntax->next = syntaxes;
@@ -1223,8 +1223,8 @@ void parse_rule(char *ptr, int rex_flags)
 
 		/* For a multiline rule, give it a number and increase the count. */
 		if (expectend) {
-			newcolor->id = live_syntax->nmultis;
-			live_syntax->nmultis++;
+			newcolor->id = live_syntax->multiscore;
+			live_syntax->multiscore++;
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index d67e9959..5f013bf9 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2595,8 +2595,8 @@ void draw_row(int row, const char *converted, linestruct *line, size_t from_col)
 		const colortype *varnish = openfile->syntax->color;
 
 		/* If there are multiline regexes, make sure this line has a cache. */
-		if (openfile->syntax->nmultis > 0 && line->multidata == NULL)
-			line->multidata = nmalloc(openfile->syntax->nmultis * sizeof(short));
+		if (openfile->syntax->multiscore > 0 && line->multidata == NULL)
+			line->multidata = nmalloc(openfile->syntax->multiscore * sizeof(short));
 
 		/* Iterate through all the coloring regexes. */
 		for (; varnish != NULL; varnish = varnish->next) {