diff --git a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
index 02dbc3b3..2b24068d 100644
--- a/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
+++ b/autoload/airline/highlighter.vim
@@ -106,8 +106,11 @@ function! airline#highlighter#load_theme()
   for winnr in filter(range(1, winnr('$')), 'v:val != winnr()')
     call airline#highlighter#highlight_modified_inactive(winbufnr(winnr))
   endfor
-  call airline#highlighter#highlight(['inactive'])
-  call airline#highlighter#highlight(['normal'])
+  if getbufvar( bufnr('%'), '&modified'  )
+    call airline#highlighter#highlight(['normal', 'modified'])
+  else
+    call airline#highlighter#highlight(['normal'])
+  endif
 endfunction
 
 function! airline#highlighter#add_separator(from, to, inverse)