[mod_python] PythonHandler does not appear to append directory to import path

I'm using mod_python 3.03, apache 2.047, and python 2.2.3 on a win2K machine
& am trying to use the publisher handler.  The problem is when I try to add
an additional handler via:

req.addhandler("PythonHandler", testModule, directory_to_append_to_sys_path)

The error I am getting is:

Mod_python error: "PythonHandler testModule"

Traceback (most recent call last):

  File "D:\Python22\lib\site-packages\mod_python\apache.py", line 340, in
HandlerDispatch
    module = import_module(module_name, config)

  File "D:\Python22\lib\site-packages\mod_python\apache.py", line 516, in
import_module
    f, p, d = imp.find_module(parts[i], path)

ImportError: No module named testModule



Looking through the HandlerDispatch function of apache.py, the relevant code
is:

if config.has_key("PythonPath"):
...
else:
    dir = hlist.directory
    if dir and (dir not in sys.path):
        sys.path[:0] = [dir]


This code doesn't appear to add my directory
(directory_to_append_to_sys_path) to the sys.path if I have "PythonPath" in
my httpd.conf file.  Importing my module fails because of this.  I'm not
sure if this is just a misunderstanding on my part or has already been
addressed (in which case I apologize for posting).  As far as I can see, the
"else" portion of this statement should be executed regardless of whether
PythonPath is in the config file or not.  Can anyone else confirm this?

Thanks,
Gerrat Rickert