diff --git a/runtime/syntax/slang.vim b/runtime/syntax/slang.vim
index 9fa89b4..938e8d5 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/slang.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/slang.vim
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@
 " Maintainer:	Jan Hlavacek <lahvak@math.ohio-state.edu>
 " Last Change:	980216
 
-" 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
 
@@ -55,47 +52,39 @@
 syn region slangPreCondit start="^\s*#\s*\(ifdef\>\|ifndef\>\|iftrue\>\|ifnfalse\>\|iffalse\>\|ifntrue\>\|if\$\|ifn\$\|\|elif\>\|else\>\|endif\>\)" skip="\\$" end="$" contains=cComment,slangString,slangCharacter,slangNumber
 
 " 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_slang_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_slang_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 slangDefinition	Type
-  HiLink slangBlock		slangDefinition
-  HiLink slangLabel		Label
-  HiLink slangConditional	Conditional
-  HiLink slangRepeat		Repeat
-  HiLink slangCharacter	Character
-  HiLink slangFloat		Float
-  HiLink slangImaginary	Float
-  HiLink slangDecimal		slangNumber
-  HiLink slangOctal		slangNumber
-  HiLink slangHex		slangNumber
-  HiLink slangNumber		Number
-  HiLink slangParenError	Error
-  HiLink slangOctalError	Error
-  HiLink slangOperator		Operator
-  HiLink slangStructure	Structure
-  HiLink slangInclude		Include
-  HiLink slangPreCondit	PreCondit
-  HiLink slangError		Error
-  HiLink slangStatement	Statement
-  HiLink slangType		Type
-  HiLink slangString		String
-  HiLink slangConstant		Constant
-  HiLink slangRangeArray	slangConstant
-  HiLink slangComment		Comment
-  HiLink slangSpecial		SpecialChar
-  HiLink slangTodo		Todo
-  HiLink slangDelim		Delimiter
+HiLink slangDefinition	Type
+HiLink slangBlock		slangDefinition
+HiLink slangLabel		Label
+HiLink slangConditional	Conditional
+HiLink slangRepeat		Repeat
+HiLink slangCharacter	Character
+HiLink slangFloat		Float
+HiLink slangImaginary	Float
+HiLink slangDecimal		slangNumber
+HiLink slangOctal		slangNumber
+HiLink slangHex		slangNumber
+HiLink slangNumber		Number
+HiLink slangParenError	Error
+HiLink slangOctalError	Error
+HiLink slangOperator		Operator
+HiLink slangStructure	Structure
+HiLink slangInclude		Include
+HiLink slangPreCondit	PreCondit
+HiLink slangError		Error
+HiLink slangStatement	Statement
+HiLink slangType		Type
+HiLink slangString		String
+HiLink slangConstant		Constant
+HiLink slangRangeArray	slangConstant
+HiLink slangComment		Comment
+HiLink slangSpecial		SpecialChar
+HiLink slangTodo		Todo
+HiLink slangDelim		Delimiter
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "slang"