diff --git a/spyder/app/start.py b/spyder/app/start.py
index ad9f2b8d0..442b4fc46 100644
--- a/spyder/app/start.py
+++ b/spyder/app/start.py
@@ -6,16 +6,8 @@
 # (see spyder/__init__.py for details)
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-# Remove PYTHONPATH paths from sys.path before other imports to protect against
-# shadowed standard libraries.
 import os
 import sys
-if os.environ.get('PYTHONPATH'):
-    for path in os.environ['PYTHONPATH'].split(os.pathsep):
-        try:
-            sys.path.remove(path.rstrip(os.sep))
-        except ValueError:
-            pass
 
 # Standard library imports
 import ctypes