diff --git a/qtconsole/mainwindow.py b/qtconsole/mainwindow.py
index 2a53b131..4d5c86b6 100644
--- a/qtconsole/mainwindow.py
+++ b/qtconsole/mainwindow.py
@@ -813,9 +813,11 @@ def set_syntax_style(self, syntax_style):
         self.active_frontend._execute(
 f"""
 from IPython.core.ultratb import VerboseTB
-try:
+if getattr(VerboseTB, 'tb_highlight_style', None) is not None:
+    VerboseTB.tb_highlight_style = '{syntax_style}'
+elif getattr(VerboseTB, '_tb_highlight_style', None) is not None:
     VerboseTB._tb_highlight_style = '{syntax_style}'
-except AttributeError:
+else:
     get_ipython().run_line_magic('colors', '{colors}')
 """,
             True)