diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 70662103..0e705e92 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ procps-ng-NEXT
   * ps: proper aix format string behavior was restored
   * sysctl: print dotted keys again
   * top: fix 'smaps' bug preventing build under clang      issue #235
+  * top: column highlighting allowed under 'L' or 'O'
 
 procps-ng-4.0.0
 ---------------
diff --git a/top/top.1 b/top/top.1
index ae21893e..814bccd5 100644
--- a/top/top.1
+++ b/top/top.1
@@ -1689,11 +1689,6 @@ The sort field might\fI not\fR be visible because:
     1) there is insufficient\fI Screen Width \fR
     2) the `f' \*(CI turned it \*F
 
-\*(NT Whenever Searching and/or Other Filtering is active in a window,
-column highlighting is temporarily disabled.
-\*(XC notes at the end of topics 5d. SEARCHING and 5e. FILTERING for an
-explanation why.
-
 .TP 7
 \ \ \ \fBy\fR\ \ :\fIRow-Highlight\fR toggle \fR
 Changes highlighting for "running" tasks.
@@ -2188,12 +2183,6 @@ could yet produce a successful `&' search.
 The above \*(CIs are\fB always\fR available in \*(FM but\fB never\fR
 available in \*(AM if the \*(CW's \*(TD has been toggled \*F.
 
-\*(NT Whenever a Search is active in a window, \*(We will turn
-column highlighting \*F to prevent false matches on internal non-display
-escape sequences.
-Such highlighting will be restored when a window's search string is empty.
-\*(XC `x' \*(CI for additional information on sort column highlighting.
-
 .\" ......................................................................
 .SS 5e. FILTERING in a Window
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2363,14 +2352,6 @@ achieve the failed `9999' objective discussed above.
 .fi
 .RS -3
 
-\*(NT Whenever Other Filtering is active in a window, \*(We will turn
-column highlighting \*F to prevent false matches on internal non-display
-escape sequences.
-Such highlighting will be restored when a window is no longer subject
-to filtering.
-\*(XC `x' \*(CI for additional information on sort column highlighting.
-.RE
-
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 .SH 6. FILES
 .\" ----------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index b44aecfc..4ae0c5c3 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -3411,9 +3411,6 @@ static void osel_clear (WIN_t *q) {
    }
    q->osel_tot = 0;
    q->osel_1st = NULL;
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-   OFFw(q, NOHISEL_xxx);
-#endif
 } // end: osel_clear
 
 
@@ -3897,9 +3894,6 @@ static const char *configs_file (FILE *fp, const char *name, float *delay) {
          if (&w->rc.fieldscur[n] != msch(w->rc.fieldscur, w->rc.fieldscur[n], EU_MAXPFLGS))
             return p;
       }
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-      OFFw(w, NOHIFND_xxx | NOHISEL_xxx);
-#endif
    } // end: for (GROUPSMAX)
 
    // any new addition(s) last, for older rcfiles compatibility...
@@ -4343,10 +4337,6 @@ static void win_reset (WIN_t *q) {
 
          osel_clear(q);
          q->findstr[0] = '\0';
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-         // NOHISEL_xxx is redundant (already turned off by osel_clear)
-         OFFw(q, NOHIFND_xxx | NOHISEL_xxx);
-#endif
          q->rc.combine_cpus = 0;
 } // end: win_reset
 
@@ -4913,10 +4903,6 @@ static void find_string (int ch) {
       snprintf(Curwin->findstr, FNDBUFSIZ, "%s", str);
       Curwin->findlen = strlen(Curwin->findstr);
       found = 0;
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-      if (Curwin->findstr[0]) SETw(Curwin, NOHIFND_xxx);
-      else OFFw(Curwin, NOHIFND_xxx);
-#endif
    }
    if (Curwin->findstr[0]) {
       SETw(Curwin, NOPRINT_xxx);
@@ -4999,9 +4985,6 @@ static void other_filters (int ch) {
             show_msg(p);
             return;
          }
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-         SETw(w, NOHISEL_xxx);
-#endif
          break;
       case kbd_CtrlO:
          if (VIZCHKw(w)) {
@@ -5511,8 +5494,7 @@ static void keys_task (int ch) {
             TOGw(w, Show_HICOLS);
             capsmk(w);
 #else
-            if (ENUviz(w, w->rc.sortindx)
-            && !CHKw(w, NOHIFND_xxx | NOHISEL_xxx)) {
+            if (ENUviz(w, w->rc.sortindx)) {
                TOGw(w, Show_HICOLS);
                if (ENUpos(w, w->rc.sortindx) < w->begpflg) {
                   if (CHKw(w, Show_HICOLS)) w->begpflg += 2;
@@ -6263,7 +6245,7 @@ static const char *task_show (const WIN_t *q, int idx) {
          case EU_XOF:
          case EU_XON:
             cp = NULL;
-            if (!CHKw(q, NOPRINT_xxx | NOHIFND_xxx | NOHISEL_xxx)) {
+            if (!CHKw(q, NOPRINT_xxx)) {
                /* treat running tasks specially - entire row may get highlighted
                   so we needn't turn it on and we MUST NOT turn it off */
                if (!('R' == rSv(EU_STA, s_ch) && CHKw(q, Show_HIROWS)))
diff --git a/top/top.h b/top/top.h
index bbed7832..5b9436f4 100644
--- a/top/top.h
+++ b/top/top.h
@@ -269,10 +269,6 @@ typedef          long long SIC_t;
         // these flag(s) have no command as such - they're for internal use
 #define NOPRINT_xxx  0x010000     // build task rows only (not for display)
 #define EQUWINS_xxx  0x000001     // rebalance all wins & tasks (off i,n,u/U)
-#ifndef USE_X_COLHDR
-#define NOHISEL_xxx  0x200000     // restrict Show_HICOLS for osel temporarily
-#define NOHIFND_xxx  0x100000     // restrict Show_HICOLS for find temporarily
-#endif
 
         // Default flags if there's no rcfile to provide user customizations
 #ifdef ORIG_TOPDEFS