diff --git a/runtime/syntax/rtf.vim b/runtime/syntax/rtf.vim
index 8f5ea71..0c63e8d 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/rtf.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/rtf.vim
@@ -13,11 +13,8 @@
 
 " TODO: render underline, italic, bold
 
-" 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
 
@@ -52,35 +49,27 @@
 syn match rtfFootNote "[#$K+]{\\footnote.*}" contains=rtfControlWord,rtfNewControlWord
 
 " 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_rtf_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_rtf_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 rtfControlWord		Statement
-   HiLink rtfNewControlWord	Special
-   HiLink rtfControlSymbol	Constant
-   HiLink rtfCharacter		Character
-   HiLink rtfUnicodeCharacter	SpecialChar
-   HiLink rtfFootNote		Comment
+HiLink rtfControlWord		Statement
+HiLink rtfNewControlWord	Special
+HiLink rtfControlSymbol	Constant
+HiLink rtfCharacter		Character
+HiLink rtfUnicodeCharacter	SpecialChar
+HiLink rtfFootNote		Comment
 
-   " Define colors for the syntax file
-   hi rtfRed	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkRed gui=underline guifg=DarkRed
-   hi rtfGreen	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkGreen gui=underline guifg=DarkGreen
-   hi rtfBlue	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkBlue gui=underline guifg=DarkBlue
+" Define colors for the syntax file
+hi rtfRed	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkRed gui=underline guifg=DarkRed
+hi rtfGreen	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkGreen gui=underline guifg=DarkGreen
+hi rtfBlue	      term=underline cterm=underline ctermfg=DarkBlue gui=underline guifg=DarkBlue
 
-   HiLink rtfRed	rtfRed
-   HiLink rtfGreen	rtfGreen
-   HiLink rtfBlue	rtfBlue
+HiLink rtfRed	rtfRed
+HiLink rtfGreen	rtfGreen
+HiLink rtfBlue	rtfBlue
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 
 let b:current_syntax = "rtf"