diff --git a/start_epics_xxx.bash b/start_epics_xxx.bash
index 2449266a7d2cdb42ecf98c8d4f206882963340e9..a774a803cc6133a8b758a9367069843e9951bc81 100755
--- a/start_epics_xxx.bash
+++ b/start_epics_xxx.bash
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ eval $output
 # EDP is temporary EPICS_DISPLAY_PATH
 #
 function append_EDP { # note: in bash, macros are not expanded in aliases
-  EDP=${EDP}:$@ 
+  if [ -d $1 ]  # this will keep keep out nonexistent directories
+  then
+    EDP=${EDP}:$1
+  fi
 }
 EDP=.
 append_EDP  ${EPICS_APP_ADL_DIR}