diff --git a/runtime/syntax/forth.vim b/runtime/syntax/forth.vim
index 99e9400..2559779 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/forth.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/forth.vim
@@ -80,11 +80,8 @@
 "
 
 
-" 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
 
@@ -104,11 +101,7 @@
 
 " Characters allowed in keywords
 " I don't know if 128-255 are allowed in ANS-FORTH
-if version >= 600
-    setlocal iskeyword=!,@,33-35,%,$,38-64,A-Z,91-96,a-z,123-126,128-255
-else
-    set iskeyword=!,@,33-35,%,$,38-64,A-Z,91-96,a-z,123-126,128-255
-endif
+setlocal iskeyword=!,@,33-35,%,$,38-64,A-Z,91-96,a-z,123-126,128-255
 
 " when wanted, highlight trailing white space
 if exists("forth_space_errors")
@@ -289,56 +282,48 @@
 syn region forthDeprecated start='locals|' end='|'
 
 " 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_forth_syn_inits")
-    if version < 508
-	let did_forth_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 forthTodo Todo
-    HiLink forthOperators Operator
-    HiLink forthMath Number
-    HiLink forthInteger Number
-    HiLink forthFloat Float
-    HiLink forthStack Special
-    HiLink forthRstack Special
-    HiLink forthFStack Special
-    HiLink forthSP Special
-    HiLink forthMemory Function
-    HiLink forthAdrArith Function
-    HiLink forthMemBlks Function
-    HiLink forthCond Conditional
-    HiLink forthLoop Repeat
-    HiLink forthColonDef Define
-    HiLink forthEndOfColonDef Define
-    HiLink forthDefine Define
-    HiLink forthDebug Debug
-    HiLink forthAssembler Include
-    HiLink forthCharOps Character
-    HiLink forthConversion String
-    HiLink forthForth Statement
-    HiLink forthVocs Statement
-    HiLink forthString String
-    HiLink forthComment Comment
-    HiLink forthClassDef Define
-    HiLink forthEndOfClassDef Define
-    HiLink forthObjectDef Define
-    HiLink forthEndOfObjectDef Define
-    HiLink forthInclude Include
-    HiLink forthLocals Type " nothing else uses type and locals must stand out
-    HiLink forthDeprecated Error " if you must, change to Type
-    HiLink forthFileMode Function
-    HiLink forthFileWords Statement
-    HiLink forthBlocks Statement
-    HiLink forthSpaceError Error
+" The default methods for highlighting. Can be overridden later.
+HiLink forthTodo Todo
+HiLink forthOperators Operator
+HiLink forthMath Number
+HiLink forthInteger Number
+HiLink forthFloat Float
+HiLink forthStack Special
+HiLink forthRstack Special
+HiLink forthFStack Special
+HiLink forthSP Special
+HiLink forthMemory Function
+HiLink forthAdrArith Function
+HiLink forthMemBlks Function
+HiLink forthCond Conditional
+HiLink forthLoop Repeat
+HiLink forthColonDef Define
+HiLink forthEndOfColonDef Define
+HiLink forthDefine Define
+HiLink forthDebug Debug
+HiLink forthAssembler Include
+HiLink forthCharOps Character
+HiLink forthConversion String
+HiLink forthForth Statement
+HiLink forthVocs Statement
+HiLink forthString String
+HiLink forthComment Comment
+HiLink forthClassDef Define
+HiLink forthEndOfClassDef Define
+HiLink forthObjectDef Define
+HiLink forthEndOfObjectDef Define
+HiLink forthInclude Include
+HiLink forthLocals Type " nothing else uses type and locals must stand out
+HiLink forthDeprecated Error " if you must, change to Type
+HiLink forthFileMode Function
+HiLink forthFileWords Statement
+HiLink forthBlocks Statement
+HiLink forthSpaceError Error
 
-    delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "forth"