diff --git a/extensions/elixir/languages/elixir/highlights.scm b/extensions/elixir/languages/elixir/highlights.scm
index 0e779d195c..69e962ae39 100644
--- a/extensions/elixir/languages/elixir/highlights.scm
+++ b/extensions/elixir/languages/elixir/highlights.scm
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@
   quoted_start: _ @string.special
   quoted_end: _ @string.special) @string.special
 
+(identifier) @variable
+
 (
   (identifier) @comment.unused
   (#match? @comment.unused "^_")