diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/markdown_syntax_highlighter.py b/src/calibre/gui2/markdown_syntax_highlighter.py
index fa92f79d74..a6a28adb9b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/markdown_syntax_highlighter.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/markdown_syntax_highlighter.py
@@ -129,16 +129,16 @@ class MarkdownHighlighter(QSyntaxHighlighter):
 
         self.highlightList(text, cursor, bf, strt)
 
+        self.highlightEmphasis(text, cursor, bf, strt)
+
+        self.highlightBold(text, cursor, bf, strt)
+
         self.highlightLink(text, cursor, bf, strt)
 
         self.highlightImage(text, cursor, bf, strt)
 
         self.highlightCodeSpan(text, cursor, bf, strt)
 
-        self.highlightEmphasis(text, cursor, bf, strt)
-
-        self.highlightBold(text, cursor, bf, strt)
-
         self.highlightCodeBlock(text, cursor, bf, strt)
 
     def highlightBlockQuote(self, text, cursor, bf, strt):