diff --git a/spec/project-spec.coffee b/spec/project-spec.coffee
index 67b0b9060..e207b1555 100644
--- a/spec/project-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/project-spec.coffee
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ describe "Project", ->
       deserializedProject = new Project({notificationManager: atom.notifications, packageManager: atom.packages, confirm: atom.confirm})
       state = atom.project.serialize()
       state.paths.push('/directory/that/does/not/exist')
-      state.paths.push(path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures', 'sample.js'))
       deserializedProject.deserialize(state, atom.deserializers)
       expect(deserializedProject.getPaths()).toEqual(atom.project.getPaths())
 
diff --git a/src/project.coffee b/src/project.coffee
index b4a7309b8..ff085c0a1 100644
--- a/src/project.coffee
+++ b/src/project.coffee
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ class Project extends Model
 
   deserialize: (state) ->
     state.paths = [state.path] if state.path? # backward compatibility
-    state.paths = state.paths.filter (directoryPath) -> fs.isDirectorySync(directoryPath)
 
     @buffers = _.compact state.buffers.map (bufferState) ->
       # Check that buffer's file path is accessible