diff --git a/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el b/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
index 9cb5f9b64..f4eb8bf89 100644
--- a/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
+++ b/modules/lang/emacs-lisp/config.el
@@ -64,25 +64,28 @@ Functions are differentiated into special forms, built-in functions and
 library/userland functions"
     (catch 'matcher
       (while (re-search-forward "\\_<.+?\\_>" end t)
-        (let ((symbol (intern-soft (match-string-no-properties 0))))
-          (and (cond ((null symbol) nil)
-                     ((eq symbol t) nil)
-                     ((special-variable-p symbol)
-                      (setq +emacs-lisp--face 'font-lock-variable-name-face))
-                     ((and (fboundp symbol)
-                           (eq (char-before (match-beginning 0)) ?\())
-                      (let ((unaliased (indirect-function symbol t)))
-                        (unless (or (macrop unaliased)
-                                    (special-form-p unaliased))
-                          (let (unadvised)
-                            (while (not (eq (setq unadvised (ad-get-orig-definition unaliased))
-                                            (setq unaliased (indirect-function unadvised t)))))
-                            unaliased)
-                          (setq +emacs-lisp--face
-                                (if (subrp unaliased)
-                                    'font-lock-constant-face
-                                  'font-lock-function-name-face))))))
-               (throw 'matcher t))))
+        (unless (save-excursion
+                  (let ((ppss (syntax-ppss)))
+                    (or (nth 3 ppss) (nth 4 ppss))))
+          (let ((symbol (intern-soft (match-string-no-properties 0))))
+            (and (cond ((null symbol) nil)
+                       ((eq symbol t) nil)
+                       ((special-variable-p symbol)
+                        (setq +emacs-lisp--face 'font-lock-variable-name-face))
+                       ((and (fboundp symbol)
+                             (eq (char-before (match-beginning 0)) ?\())
+                        (let ((unaliased (indirect-function symbol t)))
+                          (unless (or (macrop unaliased)
+                                      (special-form-p unaliased))
+                            (let (unadvised)
+                              (while (not (eq (setq unadvised (ad-get-orig-definition unaliased))
+                                              (setq unaliased (indirect-function unadvised t)))))
+                              unaliased)
+                            (setq +emacs-lisp--face
+                                  (if (subrp unaliased)
+                                      'font-lock-constant-face
+                                    'font-lock-function-name-face))))))
+                 (throw 'matcher t)))))
       nil))
   (eval-when-compile
     (byte-compile #'+emacs-lisp-highlight-vars-and-faces))