diff --git a/runtime/syntax/vmasm.vim b/runtime/syntax/vmasm.vim
index a4b7122..c5cbb1e 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/vmasm.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/vmasm.vim
@@ -194,7 +194,6 @@
 
 " Define the default highlighting.
 " Only when an item doesn't have highlighting yet
-command -nargs=+ HiLink hi def link <args>
 
 " The default methods for highlighting.  Can be overridden later
 " Comment Constant Error Identifier PreProc Special Statement Todo Type
@@ -206,34 +205,33 @@
 " Statement		Conditional Exception Keyword Label Operator Repeat
 " Type		StorageClass Structure Typedef
 
-HiLink vmasmComment		Comment
-HiLink vmasmTodo		Todo
+hi def link vmasmComment		Comment
+hi def link vmasmTodo		Todo
 
-HiLink vmasmhexNumber		Number		" Constant
-HiLink vmasmoctNumber		Number		" Constant
-HiLink vmasmbinNumber		Number		" Constant
-HiLink vmasmdecNumber		Number		" Constant
-HiLink vmasmfloatNumber	Number		" Constant
+hi def link vmasmhexNumber		Number		" Constant
+hi def link vmasmoctNumber		Number		" Constant
+hi def link vmasmbinNumber		Number		" Constant
+hi def link vmasmdecNumber		Number		" Constant
+hi def link vmasmfloatNumber	Number		" Constant
 
-"  HiLink vmasmString		String		" Constant
+"  hi def link vmasmString		String		" Constant
 
-HiLink vmasmReg		Identifier
-HiLink vmasmOperator		Identifier
+hi def link vmasmReg		Identifier
+hi def link vmasmOperator		Identifier
 
-HiLink vmasmInclude		Include		" PreProc
-HiLink vmasmMacro		Macro		" PreProc
-" HiLink vmasmMacroParam	Keyword		" Statement
+hi def link vmasmInclude		Include		" PreProc
+hi def link vmasmMacro		Macro		" PreProc
+" hi def link vmasmMacroParam	Keyword		" Statement
 
-HiLink vmasmDirective		Special
-HiLink vmasmPreCond		Special
+hi def link vmasmDirective		Special
+hi def link vmasmPreCond		Special
 
 
-HiLink vmasmOpcode		Statement
-HiLink vmasmCond		Conditional	" Statement
-HiLink vmasmRepeat		Repeat		" Statement
+hi def link vmasmOpcode		Statement
+hi def link vmasmCond		Conditional	" Statement
+hi def link vmasmRepeat		Repeat		" Statement
 
-HiLink vmasmLabel		Type
-delcommand HiLink
+hi def link vmasmLabel		Type
 
 let b:current_syntax = "vmasm"