diff --git a/runtime/syntax/cterm.vim b/runtime/syntax/cterm.vim
index 139a0d5..8510f62 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/cterm.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/cterm.vim
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 " Last Change:	2002 Apr 13
 " Version Info: @(#)cterm.vim	1.7	97/12/15 09:23:14
 
-" 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
 
@@ -142,48 +139,40 @@
 syn match   ctermSpecialCharacter	"'\\.'"
 
 " 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_cterm_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_cterm_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 ctermStatement		Statement
-	HiLink ctermFunction		Statement
-	HiLink ctermStrFunction	Statement
-	HiLink ctermIntFunction	Statement
-	HiLink ctermLabel		Statement
-	HiLink ctermConditional	Statement
-	HiLink ctermRepeat		Statement
-	HiLink ctermLibFunc		UserDefFunc
-	HiLink ctermType		Type
-	HiLink ctermFuncArg		PreCondit
+HiLink ctermStatement		Statement
+HiLink ctermFunction		Statement
+HiLink ctermStrFunction	Statement
+HiLink ctermIntFunction	Statement
+HiLink ctermLabel		Statement
+HiLink ctermConditional	Statement
+HiLink ctermRepeat		Statement
+HiLink ctermLibFunc		UserDefFunc
+HiLink ctermType		Type
+HiLink ctermFuncArg		PreCondit
 
-	HiLink ctermPreVarRO		PreCondit
-	HiLink ctermPreVarRW		PreConditBold
-	HiLink ctermVar		Type
+HiLink ctermPreVarRO		PreCondit
+HiLink ctermPreVarRW		PreConditBold
+HiLink ctermVar		Type
 
-	HiLink ctermComment		Comment
+HiLink ctermComment		Comment
 
-	HiLink ctermCharacter		SpecialChar
-	HiLink ctermSpecial		Special
-	HiLink ctermSpecialCharacter	SpecialChar
-	HiLink ctermSymbols		Special
-	HiLink ctermString		String
-	HiLink ctermTodo		Todo
-	HiLink ctermOperator		Statement
-	HiLink ctermNumber		Number
+HiLink ctermCharacter		SpecialChar
+HiLink ctermSpecial		Special
+HiLink ctermSpecialCharacter	SpecialChar
+HiLink ctermSymbols		Special
+HiLink ctermString		String
+HiLink ctermTodo		Todo
+HiLink ctermOperator		Statement
+HiLink ctermNumber		Number
 
-	" redefine the colors
-	"hi PreConditBold	term=bold ctermfg=1 cterm=bold guifg=Purple gui=bold
-	"hi Special	term=bold ctermfg=6 guifg=SlateBlue gui=underline
+" redefine the colors
+"hi PreConditBold	term=bold ctermfg=1 cterm=bold guifg=Purple gui=bold
+"hi Special	term=bold ctermfg=6 guifg=SlateBlue gui=underline
 
-	delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "cterm"