diff --git a/plugin/00-dustin.vim b/plugin/00-dustin.vim
index 5fc0aa0..13e791b 100644
--- a/plugin/00-dustin.vim
+++ b/plugin/00-dustin.vim
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+" enable syntax highlighting
+syntax on
 " enble modelines (i.e. `# vim: set ft=rst`, etc.)
 set modeline
 " Need line numbers, of course
@@ -5,7 +7,9 @@ set number
 " Incremental search (i.e. find-as-you-type)
 set incsearch
 " Big fat red bar telling you your lines are too long
-set colorcolumn=80
+if version >= 703
+  set colorcolumn=80
+endif
 " Open windows with `:vsplit` on the right instead of the left
 set splitright
 " Backups are annoying. Use Mercurial!