diff --git a/runtime/syntax/ecd.vim b/runtime/syntax/ecd.vim
index fff7a4b..728cf28 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/ecd.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/ecd.vim
@@ -8,10 +8,8 @@
 " This syntax file was derived from apachestyle.vim
 " by Christian Hammers <ch@westend.com>
 
-" 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
 
@@ -31,26 +29,18 @@
 syn match  ecdTagError	contained "[^>]<"ms=s+1
 
 " 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_ecd_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_ecd_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 ecdComment	Comment
-  HiLink ecdAttr	Type
-  HiLink ecdAttrN	Statement
-  HiLink ecdAttrV	Value
-  HiLink ecdTag		Function
-  HiLink ecdTagN	Statement
-  HiLink ecdTagError	Error
+HiLink ecdComment	Comment
+HiLink ecdAttr	Type
+HiLink ecdAttrN	Statement
+HiLink ecdAttrV	Value
+HiLink ecdTag		Function
+HiLink ecdTagN	Statement
+HiLink ecdTagError	Error
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "ecd"
 " vim: ts=8