diff --git a/runtime/syntax/vera.vim b/runtime/syntax/vera.vim
index b8e25cf..7952c94 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/vera.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/vera.vim
@@ -10,11 +10,8 @@
 
 " (change the value for guibg to any color you like)
 
-" 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
 
@@ -287,74 +284,66 @@
 exec "syn sync ccomment veraComment minlines=" . b:vera_minlines
 
 " 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_vera_syn_inits")
-  if version < 508
-    let did_vera_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 veraClass		Identifier
-  HiLink veraObject		Identifier
-  HiLink veraUserMethod		Function
-  HiLink veraTask		Keyword
-  HiLink veraModifier		Tag
-  HiLink veraDeprecated		veraError
-  HiLink veraMethods		Statement
-  " HiLink veraInterface		Label
-  HiLink veraInterface		Function
+HiLink veraClass		Identifier
+HiLink veraObject		Identifier
+HiLink veraUserMethod		Function
+HiLink veraTask		Keyword
+HiLink veraModifier		Tag
+HiLink veraDeprecated		veraError
+HiLink veraMethods		Statement
+" HiLink veraInterface		Label
+HiLink veraInterface		Function
 
-  HiLink veraFormat		veraSpecial
-  HiLink veraCppString		veraString
-  HiLink veraCommentL		veraComment
-  HiLink veraCommentStart		veraComment
-  HiLink veraLabel			Label
-  HiLink veraUserLabel		Label
-  HiLink veraConditional		Conditional
-  HiLink veraRepeat		Repeat
-  HiLink veraCharacter		Character
-  HiLink veraSpecialCharacter	veraSpecial
-  HiLink veraNumber		Number
-  HiLink veraOctal			Number
-  HiLink veraOctalZero		PreProc	 " link this to Error if you want
-  HiLink veraFloat			Float
-  HiLink veraOctalError		veraError
-  HiLink veraParenError		veraError
-  HiLink veraErrInParen		veraError
-  HiLink veraErrInBracket		veraError
-  HiLink veraCommentError		veraError
-  HiLink veraCommentStartError	veraError
-  HiLink veraSpaceError         SpaceError
-  HiLink veraSpecialError		veraError
-  HiLink veraOperator		Operator
-  HiLink veraStructure		Structure
-  HiLink veraInclude		Include
-  HiLink veraPreProc		PreProc
-  HiLink veraDefine		Macro
-  HiLink veraIncluded		veraString
-  HiLink veraError			Error
-  HiLink veraStatement		Statement
-  HiLink veraPreCondit		PreCondit
-  HiLink veraType			Type
-  " HiLink veraConstant		Constant
-  HiLink veraConstant		Keyword
-  HiLink veraUserConstant		Constant
-  HiLink veraCommentString		veraString
-  HiLink veraComment2String	veraString
-  HiLink veraCommentSkip		veraComment
-  HiLink veraString		String
-  HiLink veraComment		Comment
-  HiLink veraSpecial		SpecialChar
-  HiLink veraTodo			Todo
-  HiLink veraCppSkip		veraCppOut
-  HiLink veraCppOut2		veraCppOut
-  HiLink veraCppOut		Comment
+HiLink veraFormat		veraSpecial
+HiLink veraCppString		veraString
+HiLink veraCommentL		veraComment
+HiLink veraCommentStart		veraComment
+HiLink veraLabel			Label
+HiLink veraUserLabel		Label
+HiLink veraConditional		Conditional
+HiLink veraRepeat		Repeat
+HiLink veraCharacter		Character
+HiLink veraSpecialCharacter	veraSpecial
+HiLink veraNumber		Number
+HiLink veraOctal			Number
+HiLink veraOctalZero		PreProc	 " link this to Error if you want
+HiLink veraFloat			Float
+HiLink veraOctalError		veraError
+HiLink veraParenError		veraError
+HiLink veraErrInParen		veraError
+HiLink veraErrInBracket		veraError
+HiLink veraCommentError		veraError
+HiLink veraCommentStartError	veraError
+HiLink veraSpaceError         SpaceError
+HiLink veraSpecialError		veraError
+HiLink veraOperator		Operator
+HiLink veraStructure		Structure
+HiLink veraInclude		Include
+HiLink veraPreProc		PreProc
+HiLink veraDefine		Macro
+HiLink veraIncluded		veraString
+HiLink veraError			Error
+HiLink veraStatement		Statement
+HiLink veraPreCondit		PreCondit
+HiLink veraType			Type
+" HiLink veraConstant		Constant
+HiLink veraConstant		Keyword
+HiLink veraUserConstant		Constant
+HiLink veraCommentString		veraString
+HiLink veraComment2String	veraString
+HiLink veraCommentSkip		veraComment
+HiLink veraString		String
+HiLink veraComment		Comment
+HiLink veraSpecial		SpecialChar
+HiLink veraTodo			Todo
+HiLink veraCppSkip		veraCppOut
+HiLink veraCppOut2		veraCppOut
+HiLink veraCppOut		Comment
 
-  delcommand HiLink
-endif
+delcommand HiLink
 
 let b:current_syntax = "vera"