diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/sh-script.el b/lisp/progmodes/sh-script.el
index 29820049636..5493e68d5bd 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/sh-script.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/sh-script.el
@@ -3294,7 +3294,7 @@ See `sh-mode--treesit-other-keywords' and
    :language 'bash
    :override t
    '((command_substitution) @sh-quoted-exec
-     (string (expansion (variable_name) @font-lock-variable-name-face)))
+     (string (expansion (variable_name) @font-lock-variable-use-face)))
 
    :feature 'heredoc
    :language 'bash