I've just committed this to the 13x and 14x trees. No effect on functionality at all.
Index: src/lyx_main.C =================================================================== RCS file: /usr/local/lyx/cvsroot/lyx-devel/src/lyx_main.C,v retrieving revision 1.134.2.12 diff -u -p -r1.134.2.12 lyx_main.C --- src/lyx_main.C 28 Jan 2005 15:12:56 -0000 1.134.2.12 +++ src/lyx_main.C 13 Feb 2005 17:10:07 -0000 @@ -361,7 +361,8 @@ void LyX::init(bool gui) lyxrc.print(); } - prependEnvPath("PATH", lyxrc.path_prefix); + if (!lyxrc.path_prefix.empty()) + prependEnvPath("PATH", lyxrc.path_prefix); // Having reset the PATH we're now in a position to run configure // if necessary. -- Angus