diff --git a/es-app/src/SystemData.cpp b/es-app/src/SystemData.cpp
index f52f52efb..447a740ab 100644
--- a/es-app/src/SystemData.cpp
+++ b/es-app/src/SystemData.cpp
@@ -483,6 +483,9 @@ bool SystemData::loadConfig()
 #endif
             path = Utils::String::replace(path, "//", "/");
 
+            // In case ~ is used, expand it to the home directory path.
+            path = Utils::FileSystem::expandHomePath(path);
+
             // Check that the ROM directory for the system is valid or otherwise abort the
             // processing.
             if (!Utils::FileSystem::exists(path)) {
diff --git a/es-core/src/utils/FileSystemUtil.cpp b/es-core/src/utils/FileSystemUtil.cpp
index 3c0ace8aa..e67142925 100644
--- a/es-core/src/utils/FileSystemUtil.cpp
+++ b/es-core/src/utils/FileSystemUtil.cpp
@@ -464,10 +464,7 @@ namespace Utils
         std::string expandHomePath(const std::string& path)
         {
             // Expand home path if ~ is used.
-            std::string expandedPath = path;
-
-            expandedPath = Utils::String::replace(path, "~", Utils::FileSystem::getHomePath());
-            return expandedPath;
+            return Utils::String::replace(path, "~", Utils::FileSystem::getHomePath());
         }
 
         std::string resolveRelativePath(const std::string& path,