diff --git a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
index 920a3ac3689..32696f10999 100644
--- a/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
+++ b/doc/nvim-tree-lua.txt
@@ -793,6 +793,7 @@ Use nvim-tree in a floating window.
 
 Highlight precedence, additive:
   git < opened < modified < bookmarked < diagnostics < copied < cut
+Neovim <= 0.8 will only show the highest.
 
 *nvim-tree.renderer.add_trailing*
 Appends a trailing slash to folder names.
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/appearance.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/appearance.lua
index 6cfc1221366..fd50f93ac6c 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/appearance.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/appearance.lua
@@ -176,8 +176,15 @@ function M.setup()
 
   -- hard link override when legacy only is present
   for from, to in pairs(LEGACY_LINKS) do
-    local hl_from = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = from })
-    local hl_to = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = to })
+    local hl_from
+    local hl_to
+    if vim.fn.has "nvim-0.9" == 1 then
+      hl_from = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = from })
+      hl_to = vim.api.nvim_get_hl(0, { name = to })
+    else
+      hl_from = vim.api.nvim__get_hl_defs(0)[from] or {}
+      hl_to = vim.api.nvim__get_hl_defs(0)[to] or {}
+    end
     if vim.tbl_isempty(hl_from) and not vim.tbl_isempty(hl_to) then
       vim.api.nvim_command("hi link " .. from .. " " .. to)
     end
diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/builder.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/builder.lua
index 99f4506cd50..1fca2852733 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/builder.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/renderer/builder.lua
@@ -295,16 +295,24 @@ function Builder:add_highlights(node)
     table.insert(name_groups, name)
   end
 
-  -- one or many icon groups
+  -- one or many icon groups; <= 0.8 always uses highest due to lack of a practical nvim_get_hl equivalent
   if #icon_groups > 1 then
-    icon_hl_group = self:create_combined_group(icon_groups)
+    if vim.fn.has "nvim-0.9" == 1 then
+      icon_hl_group = self:create_combined_group(icon_groups)
+    else
+      icon_hl_group = icon_groups[#icon_groups]
+    end
   else
     icon_hl_group = icon_groups[1]
   end
 
-  -- one or many name groups
+  -- one or many name groups; <= 0.8 always uses highest due to lack of a practical nvim_get_hl equivalent
   if #name_groups > 1 then
-    name_hl_group = self:create_combined_group(name_groups)
+    if vim.fn.has "nvim-0.9" == 1 then
+      name_hl_group = self:create_combined_group(name_groups)
+    else
+      name_hl_group = name_groups[#name_groups]
+    end
   else
     name_hl_group = name_groups[1]
   end