I always use my enhanced variant of cperl-mode also for Perl5 code due to features like this, so maybe you also give it a try.

Thank you very much, and good to let people know, for all the others experiencing a similar problem. But you wrongly assumed I use something a .el thingie could run on: however do not fear, I'm not in "the" other camp. Amongst the two contendants I chose a third beast... :-)