diff --git a/runtime/syntax/elf.vim b/runtime/syntax/elf.vim
index 621e063..7835f55 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/elf.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/elf.vim
@@ -10,11 +10,8 @@
 "      This is the Applix Inc., Macro and Builder programming language.
 "      It has nothing in common with the binary format called ELF.
 
-" 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
 
@@ -63,32 +60,24 @@
 syn match elfPunct "[,;]"
 
 " 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_elf_syn_inits")
-	if version < 508
-		let did_elf_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>
 
-  " The default methods for highlighting. Can be overridden later.
-  HiLink elfComment Comment
-  HiLink elfPPCom Include
-  HiLink elfKeyword Keyword
-  HiLink elfSpecial Special
-  HiLink elfEnvironment Special
-  HiLink elfBraceError Error
-  HiLink elfConditional Conditional
-  HiLink elfMacro Function
-  HiLink elfNumber Number
-  HiLink elfString String
-  HiLink elfParens Delimiter
-  HiLink elfPunct Delimiter
+" The default methods for highlighting. Can be overridden later.
+HiLink elfComment Comment
+HiLink elfPPCom Include
+HiLink elfKeyword Keyword
+HiLink elfSpecial Special
+HiLink elfEnvironment Special
+HiLink elfBraceError Error
+HiLink elfConditional Conditional
+HiLink elfMacro Function
+HiLink elfNumber Number
+HiLink elfString String
+HiLink elfParens Delimiter
+HiLink elfPunct Delimiter
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "elf"