diff --git a/runtime/syntax/abel.vim b/runtime/syntax/abel.vim
index 05e8dac..dfa872f 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/abel.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/abel.vim
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@
 " Maintainer:	John Cook <johncook3@gmail.com>
 " Last Change:	2011 Dec 27
 
-" 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
 
@@ -123,48 +120,40 @@
 syn sync minlines=1
 
 " 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_abel_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_abel_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>
 
-  " The default highlighting.
-  HiLink abelHeader		abelStatement
-  HiLink abelSection		abelStatement
-  HiLink abelDeclaration	abelStatement
-  HiLink abelLogicalOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelRangeOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelAlternateOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelArithmeticOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelRelationalOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelAssignmentOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelTruthTableOperator	abelOperator
-  HiLink abelSpecifier		abelStatement
-  HiLink abelOperator		abelStatement
-  HiLink abelStatement		Statement
-  HiLink abelIdentifier		Identifier
-  HiLink abelTypeId		abelType
-  HiLink abelTypeIdChar		abelType
-  HiLink abelType		Type
-  HiLink abelNumber		abelString
-  HiLink abelString		String
-  HiLink abelConstant		Constant
-  HiLink abelComment		Comment
-  HiLink abelExtension		abelSpecial
-  HiLink abelSpecialChar	abelSpecial
-  HiLink abelTypeIdEnd		abelSpecial
-  HiLink abelSpecial		Special
-  HiLink abelDirective		PreProc
-  HiLink abelTodo		Todo
-  HiLink abelError		Error
+" The default highlighting.
+HiLink abelHeader		abelStatement
+HiLink abelSection		abelStatement
+HiLink abelDeclaration	abelStatement
+HiLink abelLogicalOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelRangeOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelAlternateOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelArithmeticOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelRelationalOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelAssignmentOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelTruthTableOperator	abelOperator
+HiLink abelSpecifier		abelStatement
+HiLink abelOperator		abelStatement
+HiLink abelStatement		Statement
+HiLink abelIdentifier		Identifier
+HiLink abelTypeId		abelType
+HiLink abelTypeIdChar		abelType
+HiLink abelType		Type
+HiLink abelNumber		abelString
+HiLink abelString		String
+HiLink abelConstant		Constant
+HiLink abelComment		Comment
+HiLink abelExtension		abelSpecial
+HiLink abelSpecialChar	abelSpecial
+HiLink abelTypeIdEnd		abelSpecial
+HiLink abelSpecial		Special
+HiLink abelDirective		PreProc
+HiLink abelTodo		Todo
+HiLink abelError		Error
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "abel"