diff --git a/runtime/syntax/cobol.vim b/runtime/syntax/cobol.vim
index 51ca3d8..a63e8b3 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/cobol.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/cobol.vim
@@ -6,20 +6,13 @@
 "               James Mitchell <james_mitchell@acm.org>)
 " Last Change:  2015 Feb 13
 
-" 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
 
 " MOST important - else most of the keywords wont work!
-if version < 600
-  set isk=@,48-57,-
-else
-  setlocal isk=@,48-57,-
-endif
+setlocal isk=@,48-57,-
 
 syn case ignore
 
@@ -157,52 +150,44 @@
 endif
 
 " 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_cobol_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_cobol_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 cobolBAD      Error
-  HiLink cobolBadID    Error
-  HiLink cobolBadLine  Error
-  if exists("g:cobol_legacy_code")
-      HiLink cobolMarker   Comment
-  else
-      HiLink cobolMarker   Error
-  endif
-  HiLink cobolCALLs    Function
-  HiLink cobolComment  Comment
-  HiLink cobolKeys     Comment
-  HiLink cobolAreaB    Special
-  HiLink cobolCompiler PreProc
-  HiLink cobolCondFlow Special
-  HiLink cobolCopy     PreProc
-  HiLink cobolDeclA    cobolDecl
-  HiLink cobolDecl     Type
-  HiLink cobolExtras   Special
-  HiLink cobolGoTo     Special
-  HiLink cobolConstant Constant
-  HiLink cobolNumber   Constant
-  HiLink cobolPic      Constant
-  HiLink cobolReserved Statement
-  HiLink cobolDivision Label
-  HiLink cobolSection  Label
-  HiLink cobolParagraph Label
-  HiLink cobolDivisionName  Keyword
-  HiLink cobolSectionName   Keyword
-  HiLink cobolParagraphName Keyword
-  HiLink cobolString   Constant
-  HiLink cobolTodo     Todo
-  HiLink cobolWatch    Special
-  HiLink cobolIndicator Special
-
-  delcommand HiLink
+HiLink cobolBAD      Error
+HiLink cobolBadID    Error
+HiLink cobolBadLine  Error
+if exists("g:cobol_legacy_code")
+    HiLink cobolMarker   Comment
+else
+    HiLink cobolMarker   Error
 endif
+HiLink cobolCALLs    Function
+HiLink cobolComment  Comment
+HiLink cobolKeys     Comment
+HiLink cobolAreaB    Special
+HiLink cobolCompiler PreProc
+HiLink cobolCondFlow Special
+HiLink cobolCopy     PreProc
+HiLink cobolDeclA    cobolDecl
+HiLink cobolDecl     Type
+HiLink cobolExtras   Special
+HiLink cobolGoTo     Special
+HiLink cobolConstant Constant
+HiLink cobolNumber   Constant
+HiLink cobolPic      Constant
+HiLink cobolReserved Statement
+HiLink cobolDivision Label
+HiLink cobolSection  Label
+HiLink cobolParagraph Label
+HiLink cobolDivisionName  Keyword
+HiLink cobolSectionName   Keyword
+HiLink cobolParagraphName Keyword
+HiLink cobolString   Constant
+HiLink cobolTodo     Todo
+HiLink cobolWatch    Special
+HiLink cobolIndicator Special
+
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "cobol"