diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
index 4a13da8..3fc0c5b 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/base.vim
@@ -1023,8 +1023,8 @@ function! s:update_wiki_links(wiki_nr, dir, old_url, new_url) abort
     let old_url_r = '\%(\.[/\\]\)\?' . old_url_r
     " Compute old url regex with filename between \zs and \ze
     let old_url_r = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
-          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLinkMatchUrlTemplate',
-             \ vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('syntax', a:wiki_nr)), old_url_r, '', '')
+          \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLinkMatchUrlTemplate', vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('syntax', a:wiki_nr))
+            \, old_url_r, '', '', vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('ext', a:wiki_nr))
 
     return old_url_r
   endfunction
@@ -2110,10 +2110,11 @@ endfunction
 
 "   Construct a regular expression matching from template (with special
 "   characters properly escaped), by substituting rxUrl for __LinkUrl__, rxDesc
-"   for __LinkDescription__, and rxStyle for __LinkStyle__.  The three
-"   arguments rxUrl, rxDesc, and rxStyle are copied verbatim, without any
-"   special character escapes or substitutions.
-function! vimwiki#base#apply_template(template, rxUrl, rxDesc, rxStyle) abort
+"   for __LinkDescription__, rxStyle for __LinkStyle__ and rxExtension for
+"   __FileExtention__.  The four arguments rxUrl, rxDesc, rxStyle and
+"   rxExtension are copied verbatim, without any special character escapes or
+"   substitutions.
+function! vimwiki#base#apply_template(template, rxUrl, rxDesc, rxStyle, rxExtension) abort
   let lnk = a:template
   if a:rxUrl !=? ''
     let lnk = s:safesubstitute(lnk, '__LinkUrl__', a:rxUrl, 'g')
@@ -2124,6 +2125,9 @@ function! vimwiki#base#apply_template(template, rxUrl, rxDesc, rxStyle) abort
   if a:rxStyle !=? ''
     let lnk = s:safesubstitute(lnk, '__LinkStyle__', a:rxStyle, 'g')
   endif
+  if a:rxExtension !=? ''
+    let lnk = s:safesubstitute(lnk, '__FileExtention__', a:rxExtension, 'g')
+  endif
   return lnk
 endfunction
 
diff --git a/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim b/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
index f98ddef..4087710 100644
--- a/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
+++ b/autoload/vimwiki/vars.vim
@@ -787,20 +787,20 @@ function! s:populate_extra_markdown_vars() abort
   let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix = ')'
   let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1EscapeCharsSuffix = '\(\\\)\@<!\()\)'
   let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator = ']('
-  let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Ext = ''
+  let rxWeblink1Ext = ''
   if vimwiki#vars#get_global('markdown_link_ext')
-    let mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Ext = vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('ext')
+    let rxWeblink1Ext = '__FileExtention__'
   endif
   " [DESCRIPTION](URL)
   let mkd_syntax.Weblink1Template = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix . '__LinkDescription__'.
-        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Ext.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'. rxWeblink1Ext.
         \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
   " [DESCRIPTION](ANCHOR)
   let mkd_syntax.Weblink2Template = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix . '__LinkDescription__'.
         \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
   " [DESCRIPTION](FILE#ANCHOR)
   let mkd_syntax.Weblink3Template = mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix . '__LinkDescription__'.
-        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Ext.
+        \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator. '__LinkUrl__'. rxWeblink1Ext.
         \ '#__LinkAnchor__'. mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Suffix
 
   let valid_chars = '[^\\\]]'
@@ -815,18 +815,18 @@ function! s:populate_extra_markdown_vars() abort
         \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
         \ '.*' .
         \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
-        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%('.vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('ext').'\)\?'.
+        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%(__FileExtention__\)\?'.
         \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix .
         \ '\|' .
         \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_prefix .
-        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%('.vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('ext').'\)\?'.
+        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%(__FileExtention__\)\?'.
         \ rx_wikilink_md_separator .
         \ mkd_syntax.rx_wikilink_md_suffix .
         \ '\|' .
         \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Prefix.
         \ '.*' .
         \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1Separator.
-        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%('.vimwiki#vars#get_wikilocal('ext').'\)\?'.
+        \ '\zs__LinkUrl__\ze\%(#.*\)\?\%(__FileExtention__\)\?'.
         \ mkd_syntax.rxWeblink1EscapeCharsSuffix
 
   " 1. [DESCRIPTION](URL)
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki.vim b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
index 154e400..b8c9ac6 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki.vim
@@ -51,33 +51,33 @@ function! s:highlight_existing_links() abort
   " match [[URL]]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate1')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
   " match [[URL|DESCRIPTION]]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
 
   " match {{URL}}
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiInclTemplate1')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
   " match {{URL|...}}
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiInclTemplate2')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
   " match [[DIRURL]]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate1')),
-        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
   " match [[DIRURL|DESCRIPTION]]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2')),
-        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(target, 'VimwikiLink')
 endfunction
 
@@ -114,26 +114,26 @@ let s:rxSchemes = '\%('.
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate1')),
       \ s:rxSchemes.vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkUrl'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:target, 'VimwikiLink')
 " b) match [[nonwiki-scheme-URL|DESCRIPTION]]
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiLinkTemplate2')),
       \ s:rxSchemes.vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkUrl'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiLinkDescr'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:target, 'VimwikiLink')
 
 " a) match {{nonwiki-scheme-URL}}
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiInclTemplate1')),
       \ s:rxSchemes.vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclUrl'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:target, 'VimwikiLink')
 " b) match {{nonwiki-scheme-URL}[{...}]}
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_global('WikiInclTemplate2')),
       \ s:rxSchemes.vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclUrl'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_global('rxWikiInclArgs'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:target, 'VimwikiLink')
 
 
diff --git a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
index 48812dc..90383bf 100644
--- a/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
+++ b/syntax/vimwiki_markdown_custom.vim
@@ -52,34 +52,34 @@ function! s:highlight_existing_links() abort
   " match [URL][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][URL]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
-        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_links, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " match [DIRURL][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
-        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][DIRURL]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
-        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_dirs, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 
   " match [MKDREF][]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
-        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
   " match [DESCRIPTION][MKDREF]
   let target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
         \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
-        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+        \ safe_reflinks, vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
   call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 endfunction
 
@@ -113,13 +113,13 @@ let s:rxSchemes = '\%('.
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template1')),
       \ s:rxSchemes . vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Url'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(s:target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')
 " b) match [DESCRIPTION][nonwiki-scheme-URL]
 let s:target = vimwiki#base#apply_template(
       \ vimwiki#u#escape(vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('WikiLink1Template2')),
       \ s:rxSchemes . vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Url'),
-      \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '')
+      \ vimwiki#vars#get_syntaxlocal('rxWikiLink1Descr'), '', '')
 call s:add_target_syntax_ON(s:wrap_wikilink1_rx(s:target), 'VimwikiWikiLink1')