diff --git a/lisp/loadup.el b/lisp/loadup.el
index bfec75fc2c9..d24b4bfe342 100644
--- a/lisp/loadup.el
+++ b/lisp/loadup.el
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@
 			    (expand-file-name "textmodes" dir)
 			    (expand-file-name "vc" dir)))))
 
+(setq exec-path nil)
+
 (if (eq t purify-flag)
     ;; Hash consing saved around 11% of pure space in my tests.
     (setq purify-flag (make-hash-table :test 'equal :size 70000)))