diff --git a/src/errors.h b/src/errors.h
index e576f81..0d11416 100644
--- a/src/errors.h
+++ b/src/errors.h
@@ -3208,8 +3208,7 @@
 	INIT(= N_("E1261: Cannot import .vim without using \"as\""));
 EXTERN char e_cannot_import_same_script_twice_str[]
 	INIT(= N_("E1262: Cannot import the same script twice: %s"));
-EXTERN char e_using_autoload_in_script_not_under_autoload_directory[]
-	INIT(= N_("E1263: Using autoload in a script not under an autoload directory"));
+// E1263 unused
 EXTERN char e_autoload_import_cannot_use_absolute_or_relative_path[]
 	INIT(= N_("E1264: Autoload import cannot use absolute or relative path: %s"));
 EXTERN char e_cannot_use_partial_here[]
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_import.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_import.vim
index 6abe478..3c55f43 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_import.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_import.vim
@@ -1196,9 +1196,9 @@
   var save_rtp = &rtp
   exe 'set rtp^=' .. getcwd() .. '/Xdir'
 
-  # when using "vim9script autoload" prefix is not needed
+  # when the path has "/autoload/" prefix is not needed
   var lines =<< trim END
-     vim9script autoload
+     vim9script
      g:prefixed_loaded += 1
 
      export def Gettest(): string
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@
   exe 'set rtp^=' .. getcwd() .. '/Xdir'
 
   var lines =<< trim END
-     vim9script autoload
+     vim9script
 
      export def RetArg(arg: string): string
        return arg
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@
   exe 'set rtp^=' .. getcwd() .. '/Xdir'
 
   var lines =<< trim END
-      vim9script autoload
+      vim9script
 
       g:loaded_postponed = 'true'
       export var variable = 'bla'
@@ -1337,7 +1337,7 @@
   test_override('autoload', 1)
 
   var lines =<< trim END
-      vim9script autoload
+      vim9script
 
       g:loaded_override = 'true'
       export var variable = 'bla'
@@ -1372,7 +1372,7 @@
   exe 'set rtp^=' .. getcwd() .. '/Xdir'
 
   var lines =<< trim END
-      vim9script autoload
+      vim9script
 
       g:toggle_loaded = 'yes'
 
@@ -1423,7 +1423,13 @@
       vim9script autoload
       var n = 0
   END
-  CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E1263:')
+  CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E475: Invalid argument: autoload')
+
+  lines =<< trim END
+      vim9script noclear noclear
+      var n = 0
+  END
+  CheckScriptFailure(lines, 'E983: Duplicate argument: noclear')
 enddef
 
 def Test_import_autoload_fails()
@@ -1516,7 +1522,7 @@
 " test using a autoloaded file that is case sensitive
 def Test_vim9_autoload_case_sensitive()
   var lines =<< trim END
-     vim9script autoload
+     vim9script
      export def CaseSensitive(): string
        return 'done'
      enddef
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 679d258..b2e7429 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    4136,
+/**/
     4135,
 /**/
     4134,
diff --git a/src/vim9script.c b/src/vim9script.c
index b356347..2f7f732 100644
--- a/src/vim9script.c
+++ b/src/vim9script.c
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@
     int		    sid = current_sctx.sc_sid;
     scriptitem_T    *si;
     int		    found_noclear = FALSE;
-    int		    found_autoload = FALSE;
     char_u	    *p;
 
     if (!getline_equal(eap->getline, eap->cookie, getsourceline))
@@ -96,20 +95,6 @@
 	    }
 	    found_noclear = TRUE;
 	}
-	else if (STRNCMP(p, "autoload", 8) == 0 && IS_WHITE_OR_NUL(p[8]))
-	{
-	    if (found_autoload)
-	    {
-		semsg(_(e_duplicate_argument_str), p);
-		return;
-	    }
-	    found_autoload = TRUE;
-	    if (script_name_after_autoload(si) == NULL)
-	    {
-		emsg(_(e_using_autoload_in_script_not_under_autoload_directory));
-		return;
-	    }
-	}
 	else
 	{
 	    semsg(_(e_invalid_argument_str), eap->arg);