diff --git a/collects/net/open-url.ss b/collects/net/open-url.ss
index c1194307d0..35722aff47 100644
--- a/collects/net/open-url.ss
+++ b/collects/net/open-url.ss
@@ -6,14 +6,13 @@
       [(macos)
        (send-event "MACS" "GURL" "GURL" str)]
       [(unix)
-       (define netscape-path (find-executable-path "netscape" #f))
-       
-       (unless netscape-path
-         (error 'open-url "Couldn't find Netscape."))
-       
-       (or (system* netscape-path "-remote" (format "openURL(~a)" url))
-           (let-values ([(out in id err status) (apply values (process* netscape-path url))])
-             (close-output-port in)
-             (close-input-port out)
-             (close-input-port err)))]
+       (let ([netscape-path (find-executable-path "netscape" #f)])
+         (unless netscape-path
+           (error 'open-url "Couldn't find Netscape."))
+         
+         (or (system* netscape-path "-remote" (format "openURL(~a)" str))
+             (let-values ([(out in id err status) (apply values (process* netscape-path str))])
+               (close-output-port in)
+               (close-input-port out)
+               (close-input-port err))))]
       [else (error 'open-url "don't know how to open url on platform: ~s" (system-type))])))