diff --git a/lua/metals/decoration.lua b/lua/metals/decoration.lua
index 03ca556..db8630b 100644
--- a/lua/metals/decoration.lua
+++ b/lua/metals/decoration.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ M.set_decoration = function(bufnr, decoration)
   local virt_texts = {}
   table.insert(virt_texts, { text, hover_color })
 
-  local ext_id = api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, M.decoration_namespace(), line, -1, { virt_text = virt_texts })
+  local virt_text_opts = { virt_text = virt_texts, hl_mode = "combine" }
+  local ext_id = api.nvim_buf_set_extmark(bufnr, M.decoration_namespace(), line, -1, virt_text_opts)
 
   local hover_message = lsp.util.convert_input_to_markdown_lines(decoration.hoverMessage, {})
   hover_message = lsp.util.trim_empty_lines(hover_message)