diff --git a/java/client/src/org/openqa/selenium/firefox/internal/Executable.java b/java/client/src/org/openqa/selenium/firefox/internal/Executable.java
index 3775a30f0bd79..838b7e90600ea 100644
--- a/java/client/src/org/openqa/selenium/firefox/internal/Executable.java
+++ b/java/client/src/org/openqa/selenium/firefox/internal/Executable.java
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ private static File locateFirefoxBinaryFromSystemProperty() {
       return null;
 
     File binary = new File(binaryName);
-    if (binary.exists())
+    if (binary.exists() && !binary.isDirectory())
       return binary;
 
     Platform current = Platform.getCurrent();