diff --git a/collects/macro-debugger/syntax-browser/widget.ss b/collects/macro-debugger/syntax-browser/widget.ss
index a364283262..7fa33df9fd 100644
--- a/collects/macro-debugger/syntax-browser/widget.ss
+++ b/collects/macro-debugger/syntax-browser/widget.ss
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
           
           (define/public add-syntax
             (lambda/kw (stx #:key [hi-stxs null] hi-color alpha-table)
-              (when (and hi-stxs (not hi-color))
+              (when (and (pair? hi-stxs) (not hi-color))
                 (error 'syntax-widget%::add-syntax "no highlight color specified"))
               (let ([colorer (internal-add-syntax stx hi-stxs hi-color)])
                 (when alpha-table
diff --git a/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui.ss b/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui.ss
index f468e60b01..4b2a3c54b5 100644
--- a/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui.ss
+++ b/collects/macro-debugger/view/gui.ss
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@
             (let ([result (lift/deriv-e2 synth-deriv)])
               (when result
                 (send sbview add-text "Expansion finished\n")
-                (send sbview add-syntax result #:alpha-table))
+                (send sbview add-syntax result #:alpha-table alpha-table))
               (unless result
                 (send sbview add-text "Error\n"))))