diff --git a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
index 41ab23e13..ca4da3dcd 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/syntax.rs
@@ -1092,21 +1092,14 @@ impl Syntax {
                     }],
                     cursor,
                     _tree: None,
-                    captures,
+                    captures: RefCell::new(captures),
                     config: layer.config.as_ref(), // TODO: just reuse `layer`
                     depth: layer.depth,            // TODO: just reuse `layer`
-                    ranges: &layer.ranges,         // TODO: temp
                 })
             })
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-        // HAXX: arrange layers by byte range, with deeper layers positioned first
-        layers.sort_by_key(|layer| {
-            (
-                layer.ranges.first().cloned(),
-                std::cmp::Reverse(layer.depth),
-            )
-        });
+        layers.sort_unstable_by_key(|layer| layer.sort_key());
 
         let mut result = HighlightIter {
             source,
@@ -1424,12 +1417,11 @@ impl<'a> TextProvider<'a> for RopeProvider<'a> {
 struct HighlightIterLayer<'a> {
     _tree: Option<Tree>,
     cursor: QueryCursor,
-    captures: iter::Peekable<QueryCaptures<'a, 'a, RopeProvider<'a>>>,
+    captures: RefCell<iter::Peekable<QueryCaptures<'a, 'a, RopeProvider<'a>>>>,
     config: &'a HighlightConfiguration,
     highlight_end_stack: Vec<usize>,
     scope_stack: Vec<LocalScope<'a>>,
     depth: u32,
-    ranges: &'a [Range],
 }
 
 impl<'a> fmt::Debug for HighlightIterLayer<'a> {
@@ -1610,10 +1602,11 @@ impl<'a> HighlightIterLayer<'a> {
     // First, sort scope boundaries by their byte offset in the document. At a
     // given position, emit scope endings before scope beginnings. Finally, emit
     // scope boundaries from deeper layers first.
-    fn sort_key(&mut self) -> Option<(usize, bool, isize)> {
+    fn sort_key(&self) -> Option<(usize, bool, isize)> {
         let depth = -(self.depth as isize);
         let next_start = self
             .captures
+            .borrow_mut()
             .peek()
             .map(|(m, i)| m.captures[*i].node.start_byte());
         let next_end = self.highlight_end_stack.last().cloned();
@@ -1838,7 +1831,8 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for HighlightIter<'a> {
             // Get the next capture from whichever layer has the earliest highlight boundary.
             let range;
             let layer = &mut self.layers[0];
-            if let Some((next_match, capture_index)) = layer.captures.peek() {
+            let captures = layer.captures.get_mut();
+            if let Some((next_match, capture_index)) = captures.peek() {
                 let next_capture = next_match.captures[*capture_index];
                 range = next_capture.node.byte_range();
 
@@ -1861,7 +1855,7 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for HighlightIter<'a> {
                 return self.emit_event(self.source.len_bytes(), None);
             };
 
-            let (mut match_, capture_index) = layer.captures.next().unwrap();
+            let (mut match_, capture_index) = captures.next().unwrap();
             let mut capture = match_.captures[capture_index];
 
             // Remove from the local scope stack any local scopes that have already ended.
@@ -1937,11 +1931,11 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for HighlightIter<'a> {
                 }
 
                 // Continue processing any additional matches for the same node.
-                if let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = layer.captures.peek() {
+                if let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = captures.peek() {
                     let next_capture = next_match.captures[*next_capture_index];
                     if next_capture.node == capture.node {
                         capture = next_capture;
-                        match_ = layer.captures.next().unwrap().0;
+                        match_ = captures.next().unwrap().0;
                         continue;
                     }
                 }
@@ -1964,11 +1958,11 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for HighlightIter<'a> {
             // highlighting patterns that are disabled for local variables.
             if definition_highlight.is_some() || reference_highlight.is_some() {
                 while layer.config.non_local_variable_patterns[match_.pattern_index] {
-                    if let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = layer.captures.peek() {
+                    if let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = captures.peek() {
                         let next_capture = next_match.captures[*next_capture_index];
                         if next_capture.node == capture.node {
                             capture = next_capture;
-                            match_ = layer.captures.next().unwrap().0;
+                            match_ = captures.next().unwrap().0;
                             continue;
                         }
                     }
@@ -1983,10 +1977,10 @@ impl<'a> Iterator for HighlightIter<'a> {
             // for a given node are ordered by pattern index, so these subsequent
             // captures are guaranteed to be for highlighting, not injections or
             // local variables.
-            while let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = layer.captures.peek() {
+            while let Some((next_match, next_capture_index)) = captures.peek() {
                 let next_capture = next_match.captures[*next_capture_index];
                 if next_capture.node == capture.node {
-                    layer.captures.next();
+                    captures.next();
                 } else {
                     break;
                 }