diff --git a/src/snek/system/markdown.py b/src/snek/system/markdown.py
index 198f589..1f01354 100644
--- a/src/snek/system/markdown.py
+++ b/src/snek/system/markdown.py
@@ -31,10 +31,11 @@ class MarkdownRenderer(HTMLRenderer):
             lang = 'bash'
             # return '\n<pre><code>%s</code></pre>\n' % escape(code)
         lexer = get_lexer_by_name(lang, stripall=True)
-        if not lexer:
-            return f"<pre>{code}</pre>"
         formatter = html.HtmlFormatter(lineseparator="<br>")
-        return highlight(code, lexer, formatter)
+        result = highlight(code, lexer, formatter)
+        if not result:
+            return f"<pre>{code}</pre>"
+        return result 
 
     def render(self):
         markdown_string = self.app.template_path.joinpath(self.template).read_text()