diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
index 90b94d5d61..40f74f4cdc 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def check_user_path
   end
 
   # Don't complain about sbin not being in the path if it doesn't exist
-  if (HOMEBREW_PREFIX+'sbin').exist?
+  if (HOMEBREW_PREFIX+'sbin').children.count > 0
     unless seen_prefix_sbin
       puts <<-EOS.undent
         Some brews install binaries to sbin instead of bin, but Homebrew's