diff --git a/syntax/pml.vim b/syntax/pml.vim
index 37d9ce9..afb08f1 100644
--- a/syntax/pml.vim
+++ b/syntax/pml.vim
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@ runtime! syntax/xml.vim
 
 syntax spell toplevel
 
-syntax match pmlCrossReference "<p\=ref\>\_[^>]*>"
-hi def link pmlCrossReference Underlined
+syntax match pmlLinkend @linkend=\('\zs[^']\+\ze'\|\"\zs[^"]\+\ze"\)@ contained
+syntax match pmlCrossReference "<p\=ref\>\_[^>]*>" contains=pmlLinkend
+hi def link pmlLinkend Underlined