diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/u.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/u.vim
index bc10ba3..2c60bb2 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/u.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/u.vim
@@ -78,3 +78,13 @@ endfunction "}}}
 function! vimwiki#u#escape(string) "{{{
   return escape(a:string, '.*[]\^$')
 endfunction "}}}
+
+" Load concrete Wiki syntax: sets regexes and templates for headers and links
+function vimwiki#u#reload_regexes() "{{{
+  execute 'runtime! syntax/vimwiki_'.VimwikiGet('syntax').'.vim'
+endfunction "}}}
+
+" Load syntax-specific functionality
+function vimwiki#u#reload_regexes_custom() "{{{
+  execute 'runtime! syntax/vimwiki_'.VimwikiGet('syntax').'_custom.vim'
+endfunction "}}}
diff --git a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
index b9df7fe..30895d7 100644
--- a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ if exists("b:did_ftplugin")
   finish
 endif
 let b:did_ftplugin = 1  " Don't load another plugin for this buffer
-execute 'runtime! syntax/vimwiki.vim'
+
+call vimwiki#u#reload_regexes()
 
 " UNDO list {{{
 " Reset the following options to undo this plugin.
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki.vim b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
index 239f5ca..50f1312 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ if version < 600
 elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
   finish
 endif
+
 "TODO do nothing if ...? (?)
 let starttime = reltime()  " start the clock
 if VimwikiGet('maxhi')
@@ -43,10 +44,8 @@ let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkUrl = g:vimwiki_rxWebProtocols .
 
 " }}}
 
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-" Load concrete Wiki syntax: sets regexes and templates for headers and links
-execute 'runtime! syntax/vimwiki_'.VimwikiGet('syntax').'.vim'
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+call vimwiki#u#reload_regexes()
+
 let time0 = vimwiki#u#time(starttime)  "XXX
 
 " LINKS: setup of larger regexes {{{
@@ -399,10 +398,7 @@ syntax match VimwikiTableRow /^\s*|.\+|\s*$/
 syntax match VimwikiCellSeparator 
       \ /\%(|\)\|\%(-\@<=+\-\@=\)\|\%([|+]\@<=-\+\)/ contained
 
-" List items
-let g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB = '^\s*\%(\('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\)\|\('.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\)\s'
-let g:vimwiki_rxListItem = g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB . '\+\%(\[\(['.join(g:vimwiki_listsyms, '').']\)\]\s\)\?'
-
+" Lists
 execute 'syntax match VimwikiList /'.g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB.'/'
 execute 'syntax match VimwikiList /'.g:vimwiki_rxListDefine.'/'
 execute 'syntax match VimwikiListTodo /'.g:vimwiki_rxListItem.'/'
@@ -577,10 +573,8 @@ hi def link VimwikiLinkCharT VimwikiLinkT
 hi def link VimwikiNoExistsLinkCharT VimwikiNoExistsLinkT
 "}}}
 
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 " Load syntax-specific functionality
-execute 'runtime! syntax/vimwiki_'.VimwikiGet('syntax').'_custom.vim'
-" -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+call vimwiki#u#reload_regexes_custom()
 
 " FIXME it now does not make sense to pretend there is a single syntax "vimwiki"
 let b:current_syntax="vimwiki"
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_default.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_default.vim
index 6b8a591..00af626 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_default.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_default.vim
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ let g:vimwiki_number_types = ['1)', '1.', 'i)', 'I)', 'a)', 'A)']
 "it is used for i_<C-L><C-J> among other things
 let g:vimwiki_list_markers = ['-', '•', '1.', '*', 'I)', 'a)']
 let g:vimwiki_rxListDefine = '::\(\s\|$\)'
-
 call vimwiki#lst#setup_marker_infos()
+
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB = '^\s*\%(\('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\)\|\('.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\)\s'
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItem = g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB . '\+\%(\[\(['.join(g:vimwiki_listsyms, '').']\)\]\s\)\?'
 let g:vimwiki_rxListItemAndChildren = '^\(\s*\)\%('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\|'.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\s\+\['.g:vimwiki_listsyms[4].'\]\s.*\%(\n\%(\1\s.*\|^$\)\)*'
 
 " Preformatted text
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown.vim
index 0291655..652b05c 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown.vim
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ let g:vimwiki_number_types = ['1.']
 let g:vimwiki_list_markers = ['-', '*', '+', '1.']
 let g:vimwiki_rxListDefine = '::\%(\s\|$\)'
 call vimwiki#lst#setup_marker_infos()
+
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB = '^\s*\%(\('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\)\|\('.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\)\s'
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItem = g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB . '\+\%(\[\(['.join(g:vimwiki_listsyms, '').']\)\]\s\)\?'
 let g:vimwiki_rxListItemAndChildren = '^\(\s*\)\%('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\|'.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\s\+\['.g:vimwiki_listsyms[4].'\]\s.*\%(\n\%(\1\s.*\|^$\)\)*'
 
 " Preformatted text
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_media.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_media.vim
index 12a0656..d11626e 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_media.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_media.vim
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ let g:vimwiki_number_types = []
 let g:vimwiki_list_markers = ['*', '#']
 let g:vimwiki_rxListDefine = '^\%(;\|:\)\s'
 call vimwiki#lst#setup_marker_infos()
-let g:vimwiki_rxListItemAndChildren = '^\('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\)\s\+\['.g:vimwiki_listsyms[4].'\]\s.*\%(\n\%(\1\%('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\).*\|^$\|^\s.*\)\)*'
+
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB = '^\s*\%(\('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\)\|\('.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\)\s'
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItem = g:vimwiki_rxListItemWithoutCB . '\+\%(\[\(['.join(g:vimwiki_listsyms, '').']\)\]\s\)\?'
+let g:vimwiki_rxListItemAndChildren = '^\(\s*\)\%('.g:vimwiki_rxListBullet.'\|'.g:vimwiki_rxListNumber.'\)\s\+\['.g:vimwiki_listsyms[4].'\]\s.*\%(\n\%(\1\s.*\|^$\)\)*'
 
 " Preformatted text
 let g:vimwiki_rxPreStart = '<pre>'