diff --git a/runtime/syntax/svn.vim b/runtime/syntax/svn.vim
index 6536d6d..8b83753 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/svn.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/svn.vim
@@ -15,11 +15,8 @@
 "   Myk Taylor
 "   Stefano Zacchiroli
 
-" 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
 
@@ -42,28 +39,20 @@
 syn sync match svnSync  grouphere svnRegion "^--.*--$"me=s-1
 
 " 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_svn_syn_inits")
-  if version <= 508
-    let did_svn_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 svnSummary     Keyword
-  HiLink svnBlank       Error
+HiLink svnSummary     Keyword
+HiLink svnBlank       Error
 
-  HiLink svnRegion      Comment
-  HiLink svnDelimiter   NonText
-  HiLink svnRemoved     Constant
-  HiLink svnAdded       Identifier
-  HiLink svnModified    Special
-  HiLink svnProperty    Special
-  HiLink svnRenamed     Special
+HiLink svnRegion      Comment
+HiLink svnDelimiter   NonText
+HiLink svnRemoved     Constant
+HiLink svnAdded       Identifier
+HiLink svnModified    Special
+HiLink svnProperty    Special
+HiLink svnRenamed     Special
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "svn"