diff --git a/Lib/plat-mac/macresource.py b/Lib/plat-mac/macresource.py
index 26f909409fa..7e99c00a695 100644
--- a/Lib/plat-mac/macresource.py
+++ b/Lib/plat-mac/macresource.py
@@ -49,9 +49,8 @@ def need(restype, resid, filename=None, modname=None):
 	if sys.modules.has_key(modname):
 		mod = sys.modules[modname]
 		if hasattr(mod, '__file__'):
-			searchdirs = [os.path.split(mod.__file__)[0]]
-	if not searchdirs:
-		searchdirs = sys.path
+			searchdirs = [os.path.dirname(mod.__file__)]
+	searchdirs.extend(sys.path)
 	
 	# And look for the file
 	for dir in searchdirs: