diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e468c94..63e5922 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ### Fixed
 
 - Some signals weren't properly renamed from the previous GTK3 migration (@MightyCreak)
+- The syntax menu wasn't working anymore (@MightyCreak)
 
 ## 0.8.1 - 2023-04-07
 
diff --git a/src/diffuse/widgets.py b/src/diffuse/widgets.py
index b704501..f9379cb 100644
--- a/src/diffuse/widgets.py
+++ b/src/diffuse/widgets.py
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class FileDiffViewerBase(Gtk.Grid):
         self.undoblock = None
 
         # cached data
-        self.syntax = None
+        self.syntax = ''
         self.diffmap_cache = None
 
         # editing mode
@@ -545,13 +545,13 @@ class FileDiffViewerBase(Gtk.Grid):
             self.emit('mode-changed')
 
     # sets the syntax highlighting rules
-    def setSyntax(self, s):
-        if self.syntax is not s:
-            self.syntax = s
+    def setSyntax(self, new_syntax: str) -> None:
+        if self.syntax is not new_syntax:
+            self.syntax = new_syntax
             # invalidate the syntax caches
             for pane in self.panes:
                 pane.syntax_cache = []
-            self.emit('syntax-changed', s)
+            self.emit('syntax-changed', new_syntax)
             # force all panes to redraw
             for darea in self.dareas:
                 darea.queue_draw()
diff --git a/src/diffuse/window.py b/src/diffuse/window.py
index 3b336ec..8385e5a 100644
--- a/src/diffuse/window.py
+++ b/src/diffuse/window.py
@@ -906,9 +906,6 @@ class DiffuseWindow(Gtk.ApplicationWindow):
             ]
         ]])
 
-        # used to disable menu events when switching tabs
-        self.menu_update_depth = 0
-
         menubar = Gio.Menu()
         for label, sections in menu_specs:
             menubar.append_submenu(label, self._create_menu(sections))
@@ -1257,9 +1254,9 @@ class DiffuseWindow(Gtk.ApplicationWindow):
         sb.push(context, s)
 
     # update the label in the status bar
-    def setSyntax(self, s):
+    def setSyntax(self, s: str) -> None:
         # update menu
-        self.syntax_action.set_state(GLib.Variant.new_string(s or ''))
+        self.syntax_action.set_state(GLib.Variant.new_string(s))
 
     # callback used when switching notebook pages
     def switch_page_cb(self, widget, ptr, page_num):
@@ -1691,11 +1688,8 @@ class DiffuseWindow(Gtk.ApplicationWindow):
             self.preferences_updated()
 
     # callback for all of the syntax highlighting menu items
-    def syntax_cb(self, widget, data):
-        # ignore events while we update the menu when switching tabs
-        # also ignore notification of the newly disabled item
-        if self.menu_update_depth == 0 and widget.get_active():
-            self.getCurrentViewer().setSyntax(data)
+    def syntax_cb(self, widget: Gtk.Widget, data: GLib.Variant) -> None:
+        self.getCurrentViewer().setSyntax(data.get_string())
 
     # callback for the first tab menu item
     def first_tab_cb(self, widget, data):