diff --git a/runtime/syntax/idlang.vim b/runtime/syntax/idlang.vim
index 670d080..6d639c9 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/idlang.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/idlang.vim
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 " Created by: Hermann Rochholz <Hermann.Rochholz AT gmx.de>
 
 " Remove any old syntax stuff hanging around
-" 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
 
@@ -219,35 +216,27 @@
 syn keyword idlangRoutine XVOLUME_WRITE_IMAGE XYOUTS ZOOM ZOOM_24
 
 " 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_idlang_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_idlang_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 idlangConditional	Conditional
-  HiLink idlangRoutine	Type
-  HiLink idlangStatement	Statement
-  HiLink idlangContinueLine	Todo
-  HiLink idlangRealNumber	Float
-  HiLink idlangNumber	Number
-  HiLink idlangString	String
-  HiLink idlangOperator	Operator
-  HiLink idlangComment	Comment
-  HiLink idlangTodo	Todo
-  HiLink idlangPreCondit	Identifier
-  HiLink idlangDblCommaError	Error
-  HiLink idlangStop	Error
-  HiLink idlangStrucvar	PreProc
-  HiLink idlangSystem	Identifier
-  HiLink idlangKeyword	Special
+HiLink idlangConditional	Conditional
+HiLink idlangRoutine	Type
+HiLink idlangStatement	Statement
+HiLink idlangContinueLine	Todo
+HiLink idlangRealNumber	Float
+HiLink idlangNumber	Number
+HiLink idlangString	String
+HiLink idlangOperator	Operator
+HiLink idlangComment	Comment
+HiLink idlangTodo	Todo
+HiLink idlangPreCondit	Identifier
+HiLink idlangDblCommaError	Error
+HiLink idlangStop	Error
+HiLink idlangStrucvar	PreProc
+HiLink idlangSystem	Identifier
+HiLink idlangKeyword	Special
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "idlang"
 " vim: ts=18