diff --git a/racket/lib/collects/setup/dirs.rkt b/racket/lib/collects/setup/dirs.rkt
index 2242d9015b..128e5524e0 100644
--- a/racket/lib/collects/setup/dirs.rkt
+++ b/racket/lib/collects/setup/dirs.rkt
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@
                  (if (file-exists? p)
                      (call-with-input-file* 
                       p
-                      (lambda (in) (read in)))
+                      (lambda (in) 
+                        (parameterize ([current-readtable (make-readtable #f)]) 
+                          (read in))))
                      #hash()))
                #hash()))))