diff --git a/syntax/markdown.vim b/syntax/markdown.vim
index 0da903a..2d92568 100644
--- a/syntax/markdown.vim
+++ b/syntax/markdown.vim
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ syn case ignore
 syn match markdownValid '[<>]\c[a-z/$!]\@!'
 syn match markdownValid '&\%(#\=\w*;\)\@!'
 
-syn match markdownLineStart "^[<@]\@!" nextgroup=@markdownBlock
+syn match markdownLineStart "^[<@]\@!" nextgroup=@markdownBlock,htmlSpecialChar
 
 syn cluster markdownBlock contains=markdownH1,markdownH2,markdownH3,markdownH4,markdownH5,markdownH6,markdownBlockquote,markdownListMarker,markdownOrderedListMarker,markdownCodeBlock,markdownRule
 syn cluster markdownInline contains=markdownLineBreak,markdownLinkText,markdownItalic,markdownBold,markdownCode,markdownEscape,@htmlTop,markdownError