diff --git a/runtime/syntax/maxima.vim b/runtime/syntax/maxima.vim
index be13b0e..46e1e4f 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/maxima.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/maxima.vim
@@ -232,32 +232,30 @@
 
 " Define the default highlighting.
 " Only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
-command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
 
-HiLink maximaBraceError	maximaError
-HiLink maximaCmd	maximaStatement
-HiLink maximaCurlyError	maximaError
-HiLink maximaFuncCmd	maximaStatement
-HiLink maximaParenError	maximaError
+hi def link maximaBraceError	maximaError
+hi def link maximaCmd	maximaStatement
+hi def link maximaCurlyError	maximaError
+hi def link maximaFuncCmd	maximaStatement
+hi def link maximaParenError	maximaError
 
 " The default methods for highlighting.  Can be overridden later
-HiLink maximaCharacter	Character
-HiLink maximaComma	Function
-HiLink maximaCommentBlock	Comment
-HiLink maximaConditional	Conditional
-HiLink maximaError	Error
-HiLink maximaFunc	Delimiter
-HiLink maximaOp                 Delimiter
-HiLink maximaLabel	PreProc
-HiLink maximaNumber	Number
-HiLink maximaFloat	Float
-HiLink maximaRepeat	Repeat
-HiLink maximaSpecial	Type
-HiLink maximaSpecialChar	SpecialChar
-HiLink maximaStatement	Statement
-HiLink maximaString	String
-HiLink maximaTodo	Todo
+hi def link maximaCharacter	Character
+hi def link maximaComma	Function
+hi def link maximaCommentBlock	Comment
+hi def link maximaConditional	Conditional
+hi def link maximaError	Error
+hi def link maximaFunc	Delimiter
+hi def link maximaOp                 Delimiter
+hi def link maximaLabel	PreProc
+hi def link maximaNumber	Number
+hi def link maximaFloat	Float
+hi def link maximaRepeat	Repeat
+hi def link maximaSpecial	Type
+hi def link maximaSpecialChar	SpecialChar
+hi def link maximaStatement	Statement
+hi def link maximaString	String
+hi def link maximaTodo	Todo
 
-delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "maxima"