Index: src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/SessionImpl.java
===================================================================
--- src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/SessionImpl.java	(Revision 613170)
+++ src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/core/SessionImpl.java	(Arbeitskopie)
@@ -872,14 +872,16 @@
         try {
             Path p = getQPath(absPath).getNormalizedPath();
             if (!p.isAbsolute()) {
-                throw new RepositoryException("not an absolute path: " + absPath);
+                log.info("itemExists: Path {} is not absolute", absPath);
+            } else {
+                return getItemManager().itemExists(p);
             }
-            return getItemManager().itemExists(p);
         } catch (NameException e) {
-            String msg = "invalid path:" + absPath;
-            log.debug(msg);
-            throw new RepositoryException(msg, e);
+            log.debug("itemExists: Path {} is invalid", e.getMessage());
         }
+        
+        // errors in the path
+        return false;
     }
 
     /**