diff --git a/Lib/site.py b/Lib/site.py
index 148a93f0b36..682bbd5e407 100644
--- a/Lib/site.py
+++ b/Lib/site.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ for dir in sys.path:
     # if they only differ in case); turn relative paths into absolute
     # paths.
     dir, dircase = makepath(dir)
-    if not dircase in _dirs_in_sys_path and os.path.exists(dir):
+    if not dircase in _dirs_in_sys_path:
         L.append(dir)
         _dirs_in_sys_path[dircase] = 1
 sys.path[:] = L