diff --git a/runtime/syntax/conf.vim b/runtime/syntax/conf.vim
index d08de4f..9b8a636 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/conf.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/conf.vim
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 " Vim syntax file
 " Language:	generic configure file
 " Maintainer:	Bram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>
-" Last Change:	2001 Apr 25
+" Last Change:	2005 Jun 20
 
-" 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 (custom) syntax file was already loaded
+if exists("b:current_syntax")
   finish
 endif
 
@@ -19,22 +16,10 @@
 syn region	confString	start=+'+ skip=+\\\\\|\\'+ end=+'+ oneline
 
 " 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_conf_syntax_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_conf_syntax_inits = 1
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi link <args>
-  else
-    command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
-  endif
-
-  HiLink confComment	Comment
-  HiLink confTodo	Todo
-  HiLink confString	String
-
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+" Only used when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
+hi def link confComment	Comment
+hi def link confTodo	Todo
+hi def link confString	String
 
 let b:current_syntax = "conf"