diff --git a/lisp/oc.el b/lisp/oc.el
index dde6f3a32..66b6a5ddb 100644
--- a/lisp/oc.el
+++ b/lisp/oc.el
@@ -1237,7 +1237,9 @@ from the processor set in `org-cite-activate-processor'."
       (let ((cite (org-with-point-at (match-beginning 0)
                     (org-element-citation-parser))))
         (when cite
-          (funcall activate cite)
+          ;; Do not alter match data as font-lock expects us to set it
+          ;; appropriately.
+          (save-match-data (funcall activate cite))
           ;; Move after cite object and make sure to return
           ;; a non-nil value.
           (goto-char (org-element-property :end cite)))))))