diff --git a/lib/rake/application.rb b/lib/rake/application.rb
index e387aec1c..87ae47b32 100644
--- a/lib/rake/application.rb
+++ b/lib/rake/application.rb
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ def standard_system_dir #:nodoc:
       end
     else
       def standard_system_dir #:nodoc:
-        File.join(File.expand_path("~"), ".rake")
+        File.join(Dir.home, ".rake")
       end
     end
     private :standard_system_dir