diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a8ff20e8..f13bb8a1 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -220,11 +220,12 @@ class MyBdistWininst (bdist_wininst, object):
 
         # avoid warning of 'install_lib' about installing
         # into a directory not in sys.path
+        oldpath = sys.path
         sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(self.bdist_dir, 'PURELIB'))
 
         install.run()
 
-        del sys.path[0]
+        sys.path = oldpath
 
         # And make an archive relative to the root of the
         # pseudo-installation tree.
diff --git a/test.py b/test.py
index 57021c32..ed5b2ec1 100755
--- a/test.py
+++ b/test.py
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ def main(argv):
         cfg.print_import_time = False
 
     # Set up the python path
-    sys.path[0] = cfg.basedir
+    sys.path.insert(0, cfg.basedir)
 
     # Set up tracing before we start importing things
     tracer = None