diff --git a/runtime/syntax/abc.vim b/runtime/syntax/abc.vim
index 3dc098e..68f0cf1 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/abc.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/abc.vim
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 " URL:		http://perun.hscs.wmin.ac.uk/~jra/vim/syntax/abc.vim
 " Last Change:	27th April 2001
 
-" For version 5.x: Clear all syntax items
-" For version 6.x: Quit when a syntax file was already loaded
-if version < 600
-  syntax clear
-elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
+" quit when a syntax file was already loaded
+if exists("b:current_syntax")
   finish
 endif
 
@@ -36,28 +33,20 @@
 
 
 " Define the default highlighting.
-" For version 5.7 and earlier: only when not done already
-" For version 5.8 and later: only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
-if version >= 508 || !exists("did_abc_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_abc_syn_inits = 1
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi link <args>
-  else
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
-  endif
+" Only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
+command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
 
-  HiLink abcComment		Comment
-  HiLink abcHeadField		Type
-  HiLink abcBodyField		Special
-  HiLink abcBar			Statement
-  HiLink abcTuple			Statement
-  HiLink abcBroken			Statement
-  HiLink abcTie			Statement
-  HiLink abcGuitarChord	Identifier
-  HiLink abcNote			Constant
+HiLink abcComment		Comment
+HiLink abcHeadField		Type
+HiLink abcBodyField		Special
+HiLink abcBar			Statement
+HiLink abcTuple			Statement
+HiLink abcBroken			Statement
+HiLink abcTie			Statement
+HiLink abcGuitarChord	Identifier
+HiLink abcNote			Constant
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "abc"