diff --git a/mercurial/hook.py b/mercurial/hook.py
--- a/mercurial/hook.py
+++ b/mercurial/hook.py
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ def _pythonhook(ui, repo, name, hname, f
             raise util.Abort(_('%s hook is invalid ("%s" not in '
                                'a module)') % (hname, funcname))
         modname = funcname[:d]
-        oldpaths = sys.path[:]
+        oldpaths = sys.path
         if hasattr(sys, "frozen"):
             # binary installs require sys.path manipulation
-            path, name = os.path.split(modname)
-            if path and name:
-                sys.path.append(path)
-                modname = name
+            modpath, modfile = os.path.split(modname)
+            if modpath and modfile:
+                sys.path = sys.path[:] + [modpath]
+                modname = modfile
         try:
             obj = __import__(modname)
         except ImportError: