diff --git a/highlight.h b/highlight.h
index a069ac1e2..f6e242099 100644
--- a/highlight.h
+++ b/highlight.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ enum
     highlight_spec_quote, //quoted string
     highlight_spec_redirection, //redirection
     highlight_spec_autosuggestion, //autosuggestion
+    highlight_spec_selection,
 
     HIGHLIGHT_SPEC_PRIMARY_MASK = 0xFF,
 
@@ -50,12 +51,6 @@ inline highlight_spec_t highlight_make_background(highlight_spec_t val)
     return val << 16;
 }
 
-
-/**
-   Internal value representing highlighting an active selection
-*/
-#define HIGHLIGHT_SELECTION 0x80
-
 class history_item_t;
 struct file_detection_context_t;
 
diff --git a/reader.cpp b/reader.cpp
index 1e57d820e..42469897c 100644
--- a/reader.cpp
+++ b/reader.cpp
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ static void reader_repaint()
 
     if(data->sel_active)
     {
-      int selection_color = HIGHLIGHT_SELECTION << 16;
+      highlight_spec_t selection_color = highlight_make_background(highlight_spec_selection);
       for(int i = data->sel_start_pos; i <= std::min(len - 1, data->sel_stop_pos); i++)
       {
         colors[i] = selection_color;