diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki.vim b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
index 5b92cf3..8a99c8b 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
 endif
 
 "TODO do nothing if ...? (?)
-let s:starttime = reltime()  " start the clock
+let g:starttime = reltime()  " start the clock
 if VimwikiGet('maxhi')
   let b:existing_wikifiles = vimwiki#base#get_links('*'.VimwikiGet('ext'))
   let b:existing_wikidirs  = vimwiki#base#get_links('*/')
 endif
-let s:timescans = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+let s:timescans = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
   "let b:xxx = 1
   "TODO ? update wikilink syntax group here if really needed (?) for :e and such
   "if VimwikiGet('maxhi')
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ let g:vimwiki_rxWeblinkUrl = g:vimwiki_rxWebProtocols .
 
 call vimwiki#u#reload_regexes()
 
-let s:time0 = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+let s:time0 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 
 " LINKS: setup of larger regexes {{{
 
@@ -231,16 +231,16 @@ if VimwikiGet('maxhi')
   call s:add_target_syntax_OFF(g:vimwiki_rxWikiIncl)
 
   " Subsequently, links verified on vimwiki's path are highlighted as existing
-  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
   call s:highlight_existing_links()
-  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 else
-  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
   " Wikilink
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink, 'VimwikiLink')
   " WikiIncl
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(g:vimwiki_rxWikiIncl, 'VimwikiLink')
-  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 endif
 
 " Weblink
@@ -598,5 +598,5 @@ call vimwiki#base#nested_syntax('tex',
 
 syntax spell toplevel
 
-let s:timeend = vimwiki#u#time(s:starttime)  "XXX
+let s:timeend = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 call VimwikiLog_extend('timing',['syntax:scans',s:timescans],['syntax:regexloaded',s:time0],['syntax:beforeHLexisting',s:time01],['syntax:afterHLexisting',s:time02],['syntax:end',s:timeend])
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
index d340df7..b4a3f15 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
@@ -272,14 +272,14 @@ if VimwikiGet('maxhi')
   call s:add_target_syntax_OFF(g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1, 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " Subsequently, links verified on vimwiki's path are highlighted as existing
-  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
   call s:highlight_existing_links()
-  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 else
-  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time01 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
   " Wikilink
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(g:vimwiki_rxWikiLink1, 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
-  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(starttime)  "XXX
+  let s:time02 = vimwiki#u#time(g:starttime)  "XXX
 endif
 
 " Weblink