diff --git a/autoload/vundle/config.vim b/autoload/vundle/config.vim
index 561f468f..4e889cbd 100644
--- a/autoload/vundle/config.vim
+++ b/autoload/vundle/config.vim
@@ -166,14 +166,12 @@ func! s:rtp_add_defaults()
   set rtp&vim
   let default = &rtp
   let &rtp = current
-  for item in reverse(split(default, ','))
-    exec 'set rtp-=' . item
-    if fnamemodify(item, ":t") == 'after'
-      exec 'set rtp+=' . item
-    else
-      exec 'set rtp^=' . item
-    endif
-  endfor
+  let default_rtp_items = split(default, ',')
+  if !empty(default_rtp_items)
+    let first_item = default_rtp_items[0]
+    exec 'set rtp-=' . fnameescape(first_item)
+    exec 'set rtp^=' . fnameescape(first_item)
+  endif
 endf