diff --git a/runtime/syntax/acedb.vim b/runtime/syntax/acedb.vim
index 114e4ab..43cec3a 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/acedb.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/acedb.vim
@@ -7,11 +7,8 @@
 " Syntax file to handle all $ACEDB/wspec/*.wrm files, primarily models.wrm
 " AceDB software is available from http://www.acedb.org
 
-" 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
 
@@ -86,35 +83,27 @@
 " Rest of syntax highlighting rules start here
 
 " 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_acedb_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_acedb_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 acedbMagic	Special
-  HiLink acedbHyb	Special
-  HiLink acedbType	Type
-  HiLink acedbOption	Type
-  HiLink acedbSubclass	Type
-  HiLink acedbSubtag	Include
-  HiLink acedbFlag	Include
-  HiLink acedbTag	Include
-  HiLink acedbClass	Todo
-  HiLink acedbHelp	Todo
-  HiLink acedbXref	Identifier
-  HiLink acedbModifier	Label
-  HiLink acedbComment	Comment
-  HiLink acedbBlock	ModeMsg
-  HiLink acedbNumber	Number
-  HiLink acedbString	String
+HiLink acedbMagic	Special
+HiLink acedbHyb	Special
+HiLink acedbType	Type
+HiLink acedbOption	Type
+HiLink acedbSubclass	Type
+HiLink acedbSubtag	Include
+HiLink acedbFlag	Include
+HiLink acedbTag	Include
+HiLink acedbClass	Todo
+HiLink acedbHelp	Todo
+HiLink acedbXref	Identifier
+HiLink acedbModifier	Label
+HiLink acedbComment	Comment
+HiLink acedbBlock	ModeMsg
+HiLink acedbNumber	Number
+HiLink acedbString	String
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "acedb"