diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 604d69243..22ca00353 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2661,7 +2661,8 @@ fn global_search(cx: &mut Context) {
         Some((path.as_path().into(), Some((*line_num, *line_num))))
     })
     .with_history_register(Some(reg))
-    .with_dynamic_query(get_files, Some(275));
+    .with_dynamic_query(get_files, Some(275))
+    .with_language("regex", std::sync::Arc::clone(&cx.editor.syn_loader));
 
     cx.push_layer(Box::new(overlaid(picker)));
 }
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
index 7abdfce84..a6178b392 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/picker.rs
@@ -440,6 +440,11 @@ impl<T: 'static + Send + Sync, D: 'static + Send + Sync> Picker<T, D> {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn with_language(mut self, language: &'static str, loader: Arc<ArcSwap<Loader>>) -> Self {
+        self.prompt.language = Some((language, loader));
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Move the cursor by a number of lines, either down (`Forward`) or up (`Backward`)
     pub fn move_by(&mut self, amount: u32, direction: Direction) {
         let len = self.matcher.snapshot().matched_item_count();
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
index ee5c46e76..25d1634f6 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/prompt.rs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ pub struct Prompt {
     callback_fn: CallbackFn,
     pub doc_fn: DocFn,
     next_char_handler: Option<PromptCharHandler>,
-    language: Option<(&'static str, Arc<ArcSwap<syntax::Loader>>)>,
+    pub language: Option<(&'static str, Arc<ArcSwap<syntax::Loader>>)>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]