diff --git a/runtime/syntax/basic.vim b/runtime/syntax/basic.vim
index c72032d..6384913 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/basic.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/basic.vim
@@ -8,11 +8,8 @@
 " This syntax file not a complete implementation yet.  Send suggestions to the
 " maintainer.
 
-" 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
 
@@ -143,34 +140,26 @@
 syn match   basicMathsOperator   "-\|=\|[:<>+\*^/\\]\|AND\|OR"
 
 " 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_basic_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_basic_syntax_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 basicLabel		Label
-  HiLink basicConditional	Conditional
-  HiLink basicRepeat		Repeat
-  HiLink basicLineNumber	Comment
-  HiLink basicNumber		Number
-  HiLink basicError		Error
-  HiLink basicStatement	Statement
-  HiLink basicString		String
-  HiLink basicComment		Comment
-  HiLink basicSpecial		Special
-  HiLink basicTodo		Todo
-  HiLink basicFunction		Identifier
-  HiLink basicTypeSpecifier Type
-  HiLink basicFilenumber basicTypeSpecifier
-  "hi basicMathsOperator term=bold cterm=bold gui=bold
+HiLink basicLabel		Label
+HiLink basicConditional	Conditional
+HiLink basicRepeat		Repeat
+HiLink basicLineNumber	Comment
+HiLink basicNumber		Number
+HiLink basicError		Error
+HiLink basicStatement	Statement
+HiLink basicString		String
+HiLink basicComment		Comment
+HiLink basicSpecial		Special
+HiLink basicTodo		Todo
+HiLink basicFunction		Identifier
+HiLink basicTypeSpecifier Type
+HiLink basicFilenumber basicTypeSpecifier
+"hi basicMathsOperator term=bold cterm=bold gui=bold
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "basic"