diff --git a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
index 5472321..2e3e9a8 100644
--- a/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
+++ b/core/includes/bootstrap.inc
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ function drupal_get_filename($type, $name, $filename = NULL) {
     $files[$type] = array();
   }
 
-  if (!empty($filename) && file_exists($filename)) {
+  if (!empty($filename)) {
     $files[$type][$name] = $filename;
   }
   elseif (isset($files[$type][$name])) {