diff --git a/runtime/syntax/matlab.vim b/runtime/syntax/matlab.vim
index 3828f3e..9cc2be8 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/matlab.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/matlab.vim
@@ -8,11 +8,8 @@
 " Change History:
 " 		- 'global' and 'persistent' keyword are now recognized
 
-" 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
 
@@ -76,49 +73,41 @@
 syn match matlabError	"-\=\<\d\+\.\d\+[eEdD][-+]\=\d\+\.\([^*/\\^]\)"
 
 " 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_matlab_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_matlab_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 matlabTransposeOperator	matlabOperator
-  HiLink matlabOperator			Operator
-  HiLink matlabLineContinuation		Special
-  HiLink matlabLabel			Label
-  HiLink matlabConditional		Conditional
-  HiLink matlabExceptions		Conditional
-  HiLink matlabRepeat			Repeat
-  HiLink matlabTodo			Todo
-  HiLink matlabString			String
-  HiLink matlabDelimiter		Identifier
-  HiLink matlabTransposeOther		Identifier
-  HiLink matlabNumber			Number
-  HiLink matlabFloat			Float
-  HiLink matlabFunction			Function
-  HiLink matlabError			Error
-  HiLink matlabImplicit			matlabStatement
-  HiLink matlabStatement		Statement
-  HiLink matlabOO			Statement
-  HiLink matlabSemicolon		SpecialChar
-  HiLink matlabComment			Comment
-  HiLink matlabMultilineComment		Comment
-  HiLink matlabScope			Type
+HiLink matlabTransposeOperator	matlabOperator
+HiLink matlabOperator			Operator
+HiLink matlabLineContinuation		Special
+HiLink matlabLabel			Label
+HiLink matlabConditional		Conditional
+HiLink matlabExceptions		Conditional
+HiLink matlabRepeat			Repeat
+HiLink matlabTodo			Todo
+HiLink matlabString			String
+HiLink matlabDelimiter		Identifier
+HiLink matlabTransposeOther		Identifier
+HiLink matlabNumber			Number
+HiLink matlabFloat			Float
+HiLink matlabFunction			Function
+HiLink matlabError			Error
+HiLink matlabImplicit			matlabStatement
+HiLink matlabStatement		Statement
+HiLink matlabOO			Statement
+HiLink matlabSemicolon		SpecialChar
+HiLink matlabComment			Comment
+HiLink matlabMultilineComment		Comment
+HiLink matlabScope			Type
 
-  HiLink matlabArithmeticOperator	matlabOperator
-  HiLink matlabRelationalOperator	matlabOperator
-  HiLink matlabLogicalOperator		matlabOperator
+HiLink matlabArithmeticOperator	matlabOperator
+HiLink matlabRelationalOperator	matlabOperator
+HiLink matlabLogicalOperator		matlabOperator
 
 "optional highlighting
-  "HiLink matlabIdentifier		Identifier
-  "HiLink matlabTab			Error
+"HiLink matlabIdentifier		Identifier
+"HiLink matlabTab			Error
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "matlab"