diff --git a/runtime/syntax/def.vim b/runtime/syntax/def.vim
index 5efb41b..cfae211 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/def.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/def.vim
@@ -5,11 +5,8 @@
 " Last Change:	$Date: 2007/10/02 13:51:24 $
 " $Revision: 1.2 $
 
-" 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
 
@@ -32,25 +29,17 @@
 
 
 " 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_def_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_def_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 defComment	Comment
-  HiLink defKeyword	Keyword
-  HiLink defStorage	StorageClass
-  HiLink defString	String
-  HiLink defNumber	Number
-  HiLink defOrdinal	Operator
+HiLink defComment	Comment
+HiLink defKeyword	Keyword
+HiLink defStorage	StorageClass
+HiLink defString	String
+HiLink defNumber	Number
+HiLink defOrdinal	Operator
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "def"