diff --git a/runtime/syntax/mysql.vim b/runtime/syntax/mysql.vim
index d7cf747..8d0361c 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/mysql.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/mysql.vim
@@ -6,11 +6,8 @@
 " URL:          ftp://cedar-solutions.com/software/mysql.vim
 " Note:         The definitions below are taken from the mysql user manual as of April 2002, for version 3.23
 
-" 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
 
@@ -273,29 +270,21 @@
 syn region mysqlFunction         start="yearweek(" end=")" contains=ALL
 
 " 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_mysql_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_mysql_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 mysqlKeyword            Statement
-  HiLink mysqlSpecial            Special
-  HiLink mysqlString             String
-  HiLink mysqlNumber             Number
-  HiLink mysqlVariable           Identifier
-  HiLink mysqlComment            Comment
-  HiLink mysqlType               Type
-  HiLink mysqlOperator           Statement
-  HiLink mysqlFlow               Statement
-  HiLink mysqlFunction           Function
+HiLink mysqlKeyword            Statement
+HiLink mysqlSpecial            Special
+HiLink mysqlString             String
+HiLink mysqlNumber             Number
+HiLink mysqlVariable           Identifier
+HiLink mysqlComment            Comment
+HiLink mysqlType               Type
+HiLink mysqlOperator           Statement
+HiLink mysqlFlow               Statement
+HiLink mysqlFunction           Function
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "mysql"