diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bf88e729..60408e44 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -99,3 +99,8 @@ foo' to search for #define foo. (From blueyed in issue #5.)
 ### 1.0.2
 
 * Add compatibility with [vim-dispatch](https://github.com/tpope/vim-dispatch)
+
+### 1.0.3
+
+* Fixes #127. Use `&l:hlsearch` instead of `v:hlsearch` to keep compatibility
+with versions that does not have this variable.
diff --git a/autoload/ack.vim b/autoload/ack.vim
index 0e0711c4..7ae32760 100644
--- a/autoload/ack.vim
+++ b/autoload/ack.vim
@@ -110,8 +110,7 @@ function! s:highlight(args)
   endif
 
   let @/ = matchstr(a:args, "\\v\\w+\>|['\"]\\zs[^\"]+\\ze['\"]")
-  setlocal hlsearch
-  call feedkeys(":let v:hlsearch=1 \| echo \<CR>", "n")
+  call feedkeys(":let &l:hlsearch=1 \| echo \<CR>", "n")
 endfunction
 
 function! ack#AckFromSearch(cmd, args)