diff --git a/plugin/startify.vim b/plugin/startify.vim
index 94c9dd5..20789a9 100644
--- a/plugin/startify.vim
+++ b/plugin/startify.vim
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function! s:insane_in_the_membrane() abort
   endif
   setfiletype startify
 
-  call append('$', ['   startify>', '', '   [e]  <empty buffer>'])
+  call append('$', '   [e]  <empty buffer>')
   let cnt = 0
   let sep = startify#get_sep()
 
diff --git a/syntax/startify.vim b/syntax/startify.vim
index 5c18d67..952fd1c 100644
--- a/syntax/startify.vim
+++ b/syntax/startify.vim
@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ if exists("b:current_syntax")
   finish
 endif
 
-syntax     match  startifyStartify   /startify>/
-highlight  link   startifyStartify   Function
-
 syntax     match  startifyDelimiter  /\[\|\]/
 highlight  link   startifyDelimiter  Delimiter