diff --git a/core/syntax/syntax.factor b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
index 22d8a42540..1e94469ee8 100644
--- a/core/syntax/syntax.factor
+++ b/core/syntax/syntax.factor
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ IN: bootstrap.syntax
     "W{" [ \ } [ first <wrapper> ] parse-literal ] define-core-syntax
     "HS{" [ \ } [ >hash-set ] parse-literal ] define-core-syntax
 
-    "postpone:" [ scan-word suffix! ] define-core-syntax
+    "postpone:" [ scan-syntax-word suffix! ] define-core-syntax
     "\\" [ scan-word <wrapper> suffix! ] define-core-syntax
     "M\\" [ scan-word scan-word lookup-method <wrapper> suffix! ] define-core-syntax
     "inline" [ last-word make-inline ] define-core-syntax