diff --git a/files/.bashrc b/files/.bashrc
index a6e415b..ed73607 100644
--- a/files/.bashrc
+++ b/files/.bashrc
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ export TERM=xterm-color
 [[ -f ~/.bash_aliases ]] && . ~/.bash_aliases
 
 # set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
-[[ -d "$HOME/bin" ]] && PATH="$PATH:$HOME/bin"
-[[ -d "$HOME/.local/bin" ]] && PATH="$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin"
+[[ -d "$HOME/bin" ]] && PATH+="$PATH:$HOME/bin"
+[[ -d "$HOME/.local/bin" ]] && PATH+="$PATH:$HOME/.local/bin"
 
 # source misc user scripts
 if [ -d ~/git/dotfiles/source ]; then