diff --git a/history-search-multi-word b/history-search-multi-word
index d1d22ad..9dc07d8 100644
--- a/history-search-multi-word
+++ b/history-search-multi-word
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@
 # zstyle ":history-search-multi-word" highlight-color "fg=yellow,bold"
 # zstyle ":plugin:history-search-multi-word" synhl "yes"
 
+[[ "$__HSMW_MH_SOURCED" != "1" ]] && source "$HSMW_REPO_DIR/hsmw-highlight"
+local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere
+integer path_dirs_was_set multi_func_def ointeractive_comments
+-hsmw-highlight-fill-option-variables
+
 emulate -LR zsh
 setopt typesetsilent extendedglob noshortloops localtraps
 
@@ -154,8 +159,6 @@ _hsmw_main() {
     region_highlight+=( "$(( offset + ${#txt_before} )) $(( offset + ${#txt_before} + ${#entry} + 1 )) $__hsmw_active" )
 }
 
-[[ "$__HSMW_MH_SOURCED" != "1" ]] && source "$HSMW_REPO_DIR/hsmw-highlight"
-
 _hsmw_main
 
 _hsmw_simulate_widget() {
diff --git a/hsmw-highlight b/hsmw-highlight
index c6ef5ef..24d798d 100644
--- a/hsmw-highlight
+++ b/hsmw-highlight
@@ -188,28 +188,44 @@ __HSMW_HIGHLIGHT_TOKENS_TYPES=(
   fi
 }
 
+# Below are variables that must be defined in outer
+# scope so that they are reachable in *-process()
+#
+# local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere
+# integer path_dirs_was_set
+# integer multi_func_def
+# integer ointeractive_comments
+-hsmw-highlight-fill-option-variables() {
+  if [[ -o ignore_braces ]] || eval '[[ -o ignore_close_braces ]] 2>/dev/null'; then
+    right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere=0
+  else
+    right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere=1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -o path_dirs ]]; then
+    path_dirs_was_set=1
+  else
+    path_dirs_was_set=0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -o multi_func_def ]]; then
+    multi_func_def=1
+  else
+    multi_func_def=0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ -o interactive_comments ]]; then
+    ointeractive_comments=1
+  else
+    ointeractive_comments=0
+  fi
+}
+
 # Main syntax highlighting function.
 -hsmw-highlight-process()
 {
-  ## Before we even 'emulate -L', we must test a few options that would reset.
-  if [[ -o interactive_comments ]]; then
-    local interactive_comments= # set to empty
-  fi
-  if [[ -o ignore_braces ]] || eval '[[ -o ignore_close_braces ]] 2>/dev/null'; then
-    local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere=0
-  else
-    local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere=1
-  fi
-  if [[ -o path_dirs ]]; then
-    integer path_dirs_was_set=1
-  else
-    integer path_dirs_was_set=0
-  fi
-  if [[ -o multi_func_def ]]; then
-    integer multi_func_def=1
-  else
-    integer multi_func_def=0
-  fi
+  (( ointeractive_comments )) && local interactive_comments= # _set_ to empty
+
   emulate -L zsh
   setopt localoptions extendedglob bareglobqual nonomatch noksharrays
 
diff --git a/test/parse.zsh b/test/parse.zsh
index 8020d69..5ced2c2 100755
--- a/test/parse.zsh
+++ b/test/parse.zsh
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ if [[ "$1" = "-o" || "$1" = "-oo" ]]; then
     SECONDS=0
 
     -hsmw-highlight-init
+
+    local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere
+    integer path_dirs_was_set multi_func_def ointeractive_comments
+    -hsmw-highlight-fill-option-variables
+
     local line
     for line in "${long_input[@]}"; do
         reply=( )
@@ -79,6 +84,11 @@ elif [[ -r "$1" ]]; then
 
     reply=( )
     -hsmw-highlight-init
+
+    local right_brace_is_recognised_everywhere
+    integer path_dirs_was_set multi_func_def ointeractive_comments
+    -hsmw-highlight-fill-option-variables
+
     -hsmw-highlight-process "$buf"
 
     print "Running time: $SECONDS"