diff --git a/lisp/paths.el b/lisp/paths.el
index 9682cb19337..268bdc48ab0 100644
--- a/lisp/paths.el
+++ b/lisp/paths.el
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ Will use `gnus-startup-file'-SERVER instead if exists.")
 	((and (string-match "^[^-]+-[^-]+-sysv4" system-configuration)
 	      (file-exists-p "/var/mail"))
 	 "/var/mail/")
+	;; BSD386 is said to use /var/mail.
+	((and (string-match "^[^-]+-[^-]+-bsd386" system-configuration)
+	      (file-exists-p "/var/mail"))
+	 "/var/mail/")
 	((memq system-type '(dgux hpux usg-unix-v unisoft-unix rtu irix))
 	 "/usr/mail/")
 	((eq system-type 'netbsd)