diff --git a/lib/ace/mode/php_highlight_rules.js b/lib/ace/mode/php_highlight_rules.js
index a46de75f..85ae26c9 100644
--- a/lib/ace/mode/php_highlight_rules.js
+++ b/lib/ace/mode/php_highlight_rules.js
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ PhpHighlightRules = function() {
                     else if (value == "debugger")
                         return "invalid.deprecated";
                     else
-                        if(value.match(/\$[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*|self|parent/))
+                        if(value.match(/^\$[a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*$|^self$|^parent$/))
                             return "variable";
                         return "identifier";
                 },