diff --git a/.vim/after/syntax/perl/custom.vim b/.vim/after/syntax/perl/custom.vim
--- a/.vim/after/syntax/perl/custom.vim
+++ b/.vim/after/syntax/perl/custom.vim
@@ -1,3 +1,18 @@
+compiler perl
+" even with g:perl_compiler_force_warnings = 0, perl -w is used and
+" that's just noisy with intentional no-warnings blocks out there
+
+setlocal makeprg=perl\ -c\ %\ $*
+setlocal iskeyword+=:
+
+" this keeps indents from jumping more than one level
+let b:indent_use_syntax = 0
+
 " Add match for =method from Pod::Weaver
 syn match podCommand "^=method" contained nextgroup=podCmdText contains=@NoSpell
 
+" Tweak some colors
+hi! def link perlPOD      Comment
+hi! def link podCommand   SpecialComment
+hi! def link podCmdText   Question
+hi! def link podFormat    StorageClass