diff --git a/lib/listen/directory_record.rb b/lib/listen/directory_record.rb
index 63a46a3c..79f2eb68 100644
--- a/lib/listen/directory_record.rb
+++ b/lib/listen/directory_record.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ class DirectoryRecord
     # Defines the used precision based on the type of mtime returned by the
     # system (whether its in milliseconds or just seconds)
     #
-    HIGH_PRECISION_SUPPORTED = File.mtime(__FILE__).to_f.to_s[-2..-1] != '.0'
+    begin
+      HIGH_PRECISION_SUPPORTED = File.mtime(__FILE__).to_f.to_s[-2..-1] != '.0'
+    rescue
+      HIGH_PRECISION_SUPPORTED = false
+    end
 
     # Data structure used to save meta data about a path
     #