diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim b/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim
index 0758bcbfa5..2fba6a6cc5 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/runtest.vim
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 "
 " Current directory must be runtime/syntax.
 
+" needed because of line-continuation lines
+set cpo&vim
+
 " Only do this with the +eval feature
 if 1