diff --git a/src/languages/bash.js b/src/languages/bash.js
index 165e096507..e96a46dfd8 100644
--- a/src/languages/bash.js
+++ b/src/languages/bash.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ export default function(hljs) {
     "dash",
     "scsh",
   ];
-  const SHEBANG = hljs.SHEBANG({
+  const KNOWN_SHEBANG = hljs.SHEBANG({
     binary: `(${SH_LIKE_SHELLS.join("|")})`,
     relevance: 10
   });
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ export default function(hljs) {
         '-ne -eq -lt -gt -f -d -e -s -l -a' // relevance booster
     },
     contains: [
-      SHEBANG,
+      KNOWN_SHEBANG, // to catch known shells and boost relevancy
+      hljs.SHEBANG(), // to catch unknown shells but still highlight the shebang
       FUNCTION,
       ARITHMETIC,
       hljs.HASH_COMMENT_MODE,