diff --git a/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts b/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
index dbf24e2951e3..77276c62abf8 100644
--- a/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
+++ b/src/node/markdown/markdown.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export const createMarkdownRenderer = async (
   const md = MarkdownIt({
     html: true,
     linkify: true,
-    highlight: await highlight(options.theme),
+    highlight: options.highlight || (await highlight(options.theme)),
     ...options
   }) as MarkdownRenderer