diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cbfa93e..c25189b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ Then run `./activate.sh` to activate the shell.
 ffmpeg and ffprobe are both version: 5.0
 
 ## Release History
+  * 2.6: Bugfix, `add_paths(...)` can now be called multiple times without polluting the os env path.
   * 2.5: `add_paths()` now has optional `weak` parameter (default False). If True then `ffmpeg/ffprobe` binaries are only only if either `ffmpeg` OR `ffprobe` doesn't already exist on path
   * 2.3: Adds `static_ffmpeg.add_paths()`
   * 2.2: Addressed [bug 9](https://github.com/zackees/static_ffmpeg/issues/9) in some cases static_ffmpeg couldn't handle spaces in mp4 names.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 61fb6bc..62845ec 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 EMAIL = "dont@email.me"
 AUTHOR = "Zach Vorhies"
 REQUIRES_PYTHON = ">=3.6.0"
-VERSION = "2.5"
+VERSION = "2.6"
 
 # The text of the README file
 with open(os.path.join(HERE, "README.md")) as fd:
diff --git a/static_ffmpeg/_add_paths.py b/static_ffmpeg/_add_paths.py
index 05adb59..23298d1 100644
--- a/static_ffmpeg/_add_paths.py
+++ b/static_ffmpeg/_add_paths.py
@@ -21,5 +21,7 @@ def add_paths(weak=False) -> bool:
         if has_ffmpeg and has_ffprobe:
             return False
     ffmpeg, _ = get_or_fetch_platform_executables_else_raise()
-    os.environ["PATH"] = os.pathsep.join([os.path.dirname(ffmpeg), os.environ["PATH"]])
+    ffmpeg_path = os.path.dirname(ffmpeg)
+    if ffmpeg_path not in os.environ["PATH"]:
+        os.environ["PATH"] = os.pathsep.join([ffmpeg_path, os.environ["PATH"]])
     return True