diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 6526092..d1a01ab 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 - Don't look up absolute directory names in $cdpath
   [2cc2583f8f12, part of #669]
 
+- Fix "exec 2>&1;" being highlighted as an error.
+  [#676]
+
 # Changes in version 0.7.1
 
 - Remove out-of-date information from the 0.7.0 changelog.
diff --git a/highlighters/main/main-highlighter.zsh b/highlighters/main/main-highlighter.zsh
index fcc0c96..1234ac7 100644
--- a/highlighters/main/main-highlighter.zsh
+++ b/highlighters/main/main-highlighter.zsh
@@ -824,6 +824,10 @@ _zsh_highlight_main_highlighter_highlight_list()
       next_word=${next_word//:regular:/}
       next_word+=':sudo_opt:'
       next_word+=':start:'
+      if [[ $arg == 'exec' ]]; then
+        # To allow "exec 2>&1;" where there's no command word
+        next_word+=':regular:'
+      fi
      else
       case $res in
         reserved)       # reserved word
diff --git a/highlighters/main/test-data/null-exec.zsh b/highlighters/main/test-data/null-exec.zsh
index ab73717..be1e306 100644
--- a/highlighters/main/test-data/null-exec.zsh
+++ b/highlighters/main/test-data/null-exec.zsh
@@ -34,5 +34,5 @@ expected_region_highlight=(
   '1 4 precommand' # exec
   '6 6 redirection' # >
   '7 15 path' # /dev/null
-  '16 16 commandseparator "issue #676"' # ;
+  '16 16 commandseparator' # ;
 )