diff --git a/modules/dcache/src/test/java/org/dcache/util/configuration/ConfigurationPropertiesTests.java b/modules/dcache/src/test/java/org/dcache/util/configuration/ConfigurationPropertiesTests.java
index c1ebd943380..a968e21b01a 100644
--- a/modules/dcache/src/test/java/org/dcache/util/configuration/ConfigurationPropertiesTests.java
+++ b/modules/dcache/src/test/java/org/dcache/util/configuration/ConfigurationPropertiesTests.java
@@ -401,8 +401,8 @@ public void testGetReplacementExpandingWithSpace() {
 
     @Test
     public void testGetReplacementExpandingEnv() {
-        //  we assume that this SHELL env variable always set
-        _standardProperties.setProperty(SIMPLE_PROPERTY_NAME, propertyReference("env.SHELL"));
+        //  we assume that this HOME env variable always set
+        _standardProperties.setProperty(SIMPLE_PROPERTY_NAME, propertyReference("env.HOME"));
         _standardProperties.getProperty(SIMPLE_PROPERTY_NAME);
     }