diff --git a/runtime/syntax/python.vim b/runtime/syntax/python.vim
--- a/runtime/syntax/python.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/python.vim
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
   syn match   pythonNumber
 	\ "\<\d\+\.\%([eE][+-]\=\d\+\)\=[jJ]\=\%(\W\|$\)\@="
   syn match   pythonNumber
-	\ "\%(^\|\W\)\@<=\d*\.\d\+\%([eE][+-]\=\d\+\)\=[jJ]\=\>"
+	\ "\%(^\|\W\)\zs\d*\.\d\+\%([eE][+-]\=\d\+\)\=[jJ]\=\>"
 endif
 
 " Group the built-ins in the order in the 'Python Library Reference' for