diff --git a/openpype/hosts/max/startup/startup.py b/openpype/hosts/max/startup/startup.py
index 37bcef5db1..21da115baa 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/max/startup/startup.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/max/startup/startup.py
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-from openpype.hosts.max.api import MaxHost
-from openpype.pipeline import install_host
+import os
+import sys
+
+# this might happen in some 3dsmax version where PYTHONPATH isn't added
+# to sys.path automatically
+try:
+    from openpype.hosts.max.api import MaxHost
+    from openpype.pipeline import install_host
+except (ImportError, ModuleNotFoundError):
+
+    for path in os.environ["PYTHONPATH"].split(os.pathsep):
+        if path and path not in sys.path:
+            sys.path.append(path)
+
+    from openpype.hosts.max.api import MaxHost
+    from openpype.pipeline import install_host
 
 host = MaxHost()
 install_host(host)