diff --git a/lua/ibl/highlights.lua b/lua/ibl/highlights.lua
index d14a0b64..b2cbd6de 100644
--- a/lua/ibl/highlights.lua
+++ b/lua/ibl/highlights.lua
@@ -15,7 +15,16 @@ local M = {
 }
 
 local get = function(name)
-    return vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = name })
+    local hl
+    if vim.api.nvim_get_hl then -- check for new neovim 0.9 API
+        hl = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = name })
+    else
+        hl = vim.api.nvim_get_hl_by_name(name, vim.o.termguicolors)
+        hl.fg, hl.bg = hl.foreground, hl.background
+        hl.ctermfg, hl.ctermbg = hl.fg, hl.bg
+        hl.sp = hl.special
+    end
+    return hl
 end
 
 local not_set = function(hl)
@@ -44,7 +53,7 @@ M.setup = function()
     local config = conf.get_config(-1)
 
     for _, fn in
-        pairs(hooks.get(-1, hooks.type.HIGHLIGHT_SETUP) --[[ @as ibl.hooks.cb.highlight_setup[] ]])
+    pairs(hooks.get(-1, hooks.type.HIGHLIGHT_SETUP) --[[ @as ibl.hooks.cb.highlight_setup[] ]])
     do
         fn()
     end