diff --git a/ports/unix/main.c b/ports/unix/main.c
index 7a3305a5dc..3f464d5a79 100644
--- a/ports/unix/main.c
+++ b/ports/unix/main.c
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ MP_NOINLINE int main_(int argc, char **argv) {
         #endif
     }
     size_t path_num = 1; // [0] is for current dir (or base dir of the script)
-    if (*path == ':') {
+    if (*path == PATHLIST_SEP_CHAR) {
         path_num++;
     }
     for (char *p = path; p != NULL; p = strchr(p, PATHLIST_SEP_CHAR)) {