diff --git a/tools/check-spelling.sh b/tools/check-spelling.sh
index 5090352a7..900fd87e4 100755
--- a/tools/check-spelling.sh
+++ b/tools/check-spelling.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-if git --no-pager grep -nHiE 'l[ightn]{6}g|l[ightn]{8}g|ilghtning|lgihtning|lihgtning|ligthning|lighnting|lightinng|lightnnig|lightnign' -- . ':!tools/check-spelling.sh'; then
+if git --no-pager grep -nHiE 'l[ightn]{6}g|l[ightn]{8}g|ilghtning|lgihtning|lihgtning|ligthning|lighnting|lightinng|lightnnig|lightnign' -- . ':!tools/check-spelling.sh' | grep -vE "highlighting"; then
     echo "Identified a likely misspelling of the word \"lightning\" (see above). Please fix."
     echo "Is this warning incorrect? Please teach tools/check-spelling.sh about the exciting new word."
     exit 1