diff --git a/plugins/lib/view_utils.py b/plugins/lib/view_utils.py
index 2577437f..db580999 100644
--- a/plugins/lib/view_utils.py
+++ b/plugins/lib/view_utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from sublime import Region
+from sublime import RegionFlags
 
 __all__ = ['has_file_ext', 'base_scope',
            'coorded_substr', 'get_text',
@@ -165,3 +166,14 @@ def extract_selector(view, selector, point):
         if reg.contains(point):
             return reg
     return None
+
+
+def region_flags_from_strings(flag_names):
+    """Convert a list of strings into ``sublime.RegionFlags`` object.
+
+    Note: Invalid flag names are silently ignored.
+
+    Example:
+        flags: sublime.RegionFlags = region_flags_from_strings(["DRAW_EMPTY", "DRAW_NO_FILL"])
+    """
+    return RegionFlags(sum(getattr(RegionFlags, n, RegionFlags.NONE) for n in flag_names))
diff --git a/plugins/settings/__init__.py b/plugins/settings/__init__.py
index 5fc98568..0d2d5fc7 100644
--- a/plugins/settings/__init__.py
+++ b/plugins/settings/__init__.py
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@
 import sublime
 import sublime_plugin
 
-from sublime_lib.flags import RegionOption
-
 from ..lib import get_setting, inhibit_word_completions
 from ..lib import syntax_paths
+from ..lib.view_utils import region_flags_from_strings
 from ..lib.weakmethod import WeakMethodProxy
 
 from .region_math import (VALUE_SCOPE, KEY_SCOPE, KEY_COMPLETIONS_SCOPE,
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ def do_linting(self):
                 unknown_regions,
                 scope=get_setting('settings.highlight_scope', "text"),
                 icon='dot',
-                flags=RegionOption(*styles)
+                flags=region_flags_from_strings(styles)
             )
         else:
             self.view.erase_regions('unknown_settings_keys')
diff --git a/plugins/syntax_dev/highlighter.py b/plugins/syntax_dev/highlighter.py
index 550c69f2..b3110b09 100644
--- a/plugins/syntax_dev/highlighter.py
+++ b/plugins/syntax_dev/highlighter.py
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 import sublime
 import sublime_plugin
 
-from sublime_lib.flags import RegionOption
-
+from ..lib import package_settings
 from ..lib import syntax_paths
+from ..lib.view_utils import region_flags_from_strings
 
 __all__ = (
     'SyntaxDefRegexCaptureGroupHighlighter',
@@ -23,17 +23,12 @@ def is_applicable(cls, settings):
         return settings.get('syntax') == syntax_paths.SYNTAX_DEF
 
     def on_selection_modified(self):
-        prefs = sublime.load_settings('PackageDev.sublime-settings')
-        scope = prefs.get('syntax.captures_highlight_scope', "text")
-        styles = prefs.get('syntax.captures_highlight_styles', ['DRAW_NO_FILL'])
-
-        style_flags = RegionOption(*styles)
-
+        prefs = package_settings()
         self.view.add_regions(
             key='captures',
             regions=list(self.get_regex_regions()),
-            scope=scope,
-            flags=style_flags,
+            scope=prefs['syntax.captures_highlight_scope'],
+            flags=region_flags_from_strings(prefs['syntax.captures_highlight_styles']),
         )
 
     def get_regex_regions(self):
diff --git a/plugins/syntaxtest_dev.py b/plugins/syntaxtest_dev.py
index a56c00d2..15b841ba 100644
--- a/plugins/syntaxtest_dev.py
+++ b/plugins/syntaxtest_dev.py
@@ -7,9 +7,8 @@
 import sublime
 import sublime_plugin
 
-from sublime_lib.flags import RegionOption
-
 from .lib import get_setting, path_is_relative_to
+from .lib.view_utils import region_flags_from_strings
 
 __all__ = (
     'SyntaxTestHighlighterListener',
@@ -200,7 +199,7 @@ def on_selection_modified_async(self):
 
         scope = get_setting('syntax_test.highlight_scope', 'text')
         styles = get_setting('syntax_test.highlight_styles', ['DRAW_NO_FILL'])
-        style_flags = RegionOption(*styles)
+        style_flags = region_flags_from_strings(styles)
 
         self.view.add_regions('current_syntax_test', [region], scope, '', style_flags)