diff --git a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
index f8f51ecb694a6..549dd5f2e56e0 100644
--- a/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
+++ b/eclass/python-utils-r1.eclass
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ python_optimize() {
 			if [[ ${f} == /* && -d ${D%/}${f} ]]; then
 				set -- "${D%/}${f}" "${@}"
 			fi
-		done < <("${PYTHON}" -c 'import sys; print("\0".join(sys.path))' || die)
+		done < <("${PYTHON}" -c 'import sys; print("".join(x + "\0" for x in sys.path))' || die)
 
 		debug-print "${FUNCNAME}: using sys.path: ${*/%/;}"
 	fi