diff --git a/runtime/syntax/ora.vim b/runtime/syntax/ora.vim
index bf5d322..e84299a 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/ora.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/ora.vim
@@ -11,10 +11,8 @@
 "   sqlnet-ora and tnsnames.ora; since will not cause(?) problems
 "   is easier to follow separately each file's keywords)
 
-" Remove any old syntax stuff hanging around, if needed
-if version < 600
-  syn clear
-elseif exists("b:current_syntax")
+" quit when a syntax file was already loaded
+if exists("b:current_syntax")
   finish
 endif
 
@@ -437,36 +435,26 @@
 "==============================================================================
 " 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_ora_syn_inits")
+" Only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
+command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
 
-  if version < 508
-    let did_ora_syn_inits = 1
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi link <args>
-  else
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
-  endif
+HiLink oraKeyword	  Statement		"usual keywords
+HiLink oraKeywordGroup  Type			"keywords which group other keywords
+HiLink oraKeywordPref   oraKeywordGroup	"keywords which act as prefixes
+HiLink oraKeywordObs	  Todo			"obsolete keywords
+HiLink oraKeywordUnd	  PreProc		"undocumented keywords
+HiLink oraKeywordUndObs oraKeywordObs		"undocumented obsolete keywords
+HiLink oraValue	  Identifier		"values, like true or false
+HiLink oraModifier	  oraValue		"modifies values
+HiLink oraString	  String		"strings
 
-  HiLink oraKeyword	  Statement		"usual keywords
-  HiLink oraKeywordGroup  Type			"keywords which group other keywords
-  HiLink oraKeywordPref   oraKeywordGroup	"keywords which act as prefixes
-  HiLink oraKeywordObs	  Todo			"obsolete keywords
-  HiLink oraKeywordUnd	  PreProc		"undocumented keywords
-  HiLink oraKeywordUndObs oraKeywordObs		"undocumented obsolete keywords
-  HiLink oraValue	  Identifier		"values, like true or false
-  HiLink oraModifier	  oraValue		"modifies values
-  HiLink oraString	  String		"strings
+HiLink oraSpecial	  Special		"special characters
+HiLink oraError	  Error			"errors
+HiLink oraParenError	  oraError		"errors caused by mismatching parantheses
 
-  HiLink oraSpecial	  Special		"special characters
-  HiLink oraError	  Error			"errors
-  HiLink oraParenError	  oraError		"errors caused by mismatching parantheses
+HiLink oraComment	  Comment		"comments
 
-  HiLink oraComment	  Comment		"comments
-
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
-
+delcommand HiLink
 
 
 let b:current_syntax = "ora"