diff --git a/runtime/syntax/make.vim b/runtime/syntax/make.vim
index 35b0934..f022a4e 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/make.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/make.vim
@@ -4,11 +4,8 @@
 " URL:		http://www.fleiner.com/vim/syntax/make.vim
 " Last Change:	2015 Feb 28
 
-" 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
 
@@ -101,40 +98,32 @@
 syn sync match makeCommandSync groupthere makeCommands "^[A-Za-z0-9_./$()%-][A-Za-z0-9_./\t $()%-]*:\{1,2}\s*$"
 
 " 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_make_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_make_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 makeNextLine		makeSpecial
-  HiLink makeCmdNextLine	makeSpecial
-  HiLink makeSpecTarget		Statement
-  if !exists("make_no_commands")
-    HiLink makeCommands		Number
-  endif
-  HiLink makeImplicit		Function
-  HiLink makeTarget		Function
-  HiLink makeInclude		Include
-  HiLink makePreCondit		PreCondit
-  HiLink makeStatement		Statement
-  HiLink makeIdent		Identifier
-  HiLink makeSpecial		Special
-  HiLink makeComment		Comment
-  HiLink makeDString		String
-  HiLink makeSString		String
-  HiLink makeBString		Function
-  HiLink makeError		Error
-  HiLink makeTodo		Todo
-  HiLink makeDefine		Define
-  HiLink makeCommandError	Error
-  HiLink makeConfig		PreCondit
-  delcommand HiLink
+HiLink makeNextLine		makeSpecial
+HiLink makeCmdNextLine	makeSpecial
+HiLink makeSpecTarget		Statement
+if !exists("make_no_commands")
+HiLink makeCommands		Number
 endif
+HiLink makeImplicit		Function
+HiLink makeTarget		Function
+HiLink makeInclude		Include
+HiLink makePreCondit		PreCondit
+HiLink makeStatement		Statement
+HiLink makeIdent		Identifier
+HiLink makeSpecial		Special
+HiLink makeComment		Comment
+HiLink makeDString		String
+HiLink makeSString		String
+HiLink makeBString		Function
+HiLink makeError		Error
+HiLink makeTodo		Todo
+HiLink makeDefine		Define
+HiLink makeCommandError	Error
+HiLink makeConfig		PreCondit
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "make"