diff --git a/syntax/gas.vim b/syntax/gas.vim
index 2633b60..7fb1b94 100644
--- a/syntax/gas.vim
+++ b/syntax/gas.vim
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ syn match gasRegisterX86MMX	/\<%x\?mm[0-7]\>/
 " symbols and labels
 
 syn match   gasLabel		/[-_$.A-Za-z0-9]\+\s*:/
-syn match   gasSymbol		/\<[^; \t()]\+\>/
+syn match   gasSymbol		/\<[-_$.A-Za-z][-_$.A-Za-z0-9]*\>/
 syn match   gasSymbolRef	/\$[-_$.A-Za-z][-_$.A-Za-z0-9]*\>/
 syn match   gasSpecial		/\<[$.]\>/