1 files changed, 3 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/startup.el b/lisp/startup.el
index e2b227c7bfe..f410c5026cb 100644
--- a/lisp/startup.el
+++ b/lisp/startup.el
@@ -412,8 +412,9 @@ or `CVS', and any subdirectory that contains a file named `.nosearch'."
           new)
       (while tail
         (setq new (cons (car tail) new))
-        (let ((default-directory (car tail)))
-          (load (expand-file-name "subdirs.el" (car tail)) t t t))
+        (condition-case nil
+            (let ((default-directory (car tail)))
+              (load (expand-file-name "subdirs.el" (car tail)) t t t)))
         (setq tail (cdr tail))))
     (if (not (eq system-type 'vax-vms))
         (progn