diff --git a/runtime/syntax/esqlc.vim b/runtime/syntax/esqlc.vim
index 6ad167a..ea36d66 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/esqlc.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/esqlc.vim
@@ -3,20 +3,13 @@
 " Maintainer:	Jonathan A. George <jageorge@tel.gte.com>
 " Last Change:	2001 May 09
 
-" 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
 
 " Read the C++ syntax to start with
-if version < 600
-  source <sfile>:p:h/cpp.vim
-else
-  runtime! syntax/cpp.vim
-endif
+runtime! syntax/cpp.vim
 
 " ESQL-C extentions
 
@@ -52,24 +45,16 @@
 syntax keyword esqlcStatement	truncate update
 
 " 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_esqlc_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_esqlc_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 esqlcOperator	Operator
-  HiLink esqlcStatement	Statement
-  HiLink esqlcKeyword	esqlcSpecial
-  HiLink esqlcSpecial	Special
-  HiLink esqlcPreProc	PreProc
+HiLink esqlcOperator	Operator
+HiLink esqlcStatement	Statement
+HiLink esqlcKeyword	esqlcSpecial
+HiLink esqlcSpecial	Special
+HiLink esqlcPreProc	PreProc
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "esqlc"