diff --git a/runtime/syntax/st.vim b/runtime/syntax/st.vim
index 47aa07d..1071caa 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/st.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/st.vim
@@ -3,11 +3,8 @@
 " Maintainer:	Arndt Hesse <hesse@self.de>
 " Last Change:	2012 Feb 12 by Thilo Six
 
-" 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
 
@@ -77,30 +74,22 @@
 syn sync minlines=50
 
 " 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_st_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_st_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 stKeyword		Statement
-  HiLink stMethod		Statement
-  HiLink stComment		Comment
-  HiLink stCharacter		Constant
-  HiLink stString		Constant
-  HiLink stSymbol		Special
-  HiLink stNumber		Type
-  HiLink stFloat		Type
-  HiLink stError		Error
-  HiLink stLocalVariables	Identifier
-  HiLink stBlockVariable	Identifier
+HiLink stKeyword		Statement
+HiLink stMethod		Statement
+HiLink stComment		Comment
+HiLink stCharacter		Constant
+HiLink stString		Constant
+HiLink stSymbol		Special
+HiLink stNumber		Type
+HiLink stFloat		Type
+HiLink stError		Error
+HiLink stLocalVariables	Identifier
+HiLink stBlockVariable	Identifier
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "st"