diff --git a/mcs/class/corlib/System.Runtime.Remoting/RemotingConfiguration.cs b/mcs/class/corlib/System.Runtime.Remoting/RemotingConfiguration.cs
index 33fef7a0a8d2..b553070deaa7 100644
--- a/mcs/class/corlib/System.Runtime.Remoting/RemotingConfiguration.cs
+++ b/mcs/class/corlib/System.Runtime.Remoting/RemotingConfiguration.cs
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ public static void Configure (string filename, bool ensureSecurity)
 		{
 			lock (channelTemplates) {
 				if (!defaultConfigRead) {
-					ReadConfigFile (Environment.GetMachineConfigPath ());
+					if (File.Exists (Environment.GetMachineConfigPath ()))
+						ReadConfigFile (Environment.GetMachineConfigPath ());
 					defaultConfigRead = true;
 				}