diff --git a/src/make.tcl b/src/make.tcl
index fd30f208..2deda8a3 100644
--- a/src/make.tcl
+++ b/src/make.tcl
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ if {$bootsupport_paths_exist || $sourcesupport_paths_exist} {
     set support_contents_exist 0
     foreach p [list {*}$bootsupport_module_paths {*}$bootsupport_library_paths {*}$sourcesupport_module_paths {*}$sourcesupport_library_paths] {
         #set contents [glob -nocomplain -dir $p -tail *]
+        if {![file exists $p]} {continue}
         set contents [punkboot::lib::folder_nondotted_children $p]
         set readmeposn [lsearch -nocase $contents readme.md]
         #don't assume 'ledit' available