diff --git a/ceru/subcmds/new/ssh-key b/ceru/subcmds/new/ssh-key
index 50078c8..974a5f5 100755
--- a/ceru/subcmds/new/ssh-key
+++ b/ceru/subcmds/new/ssh-key
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ fi
 
 if [[ -z "$OUT" ]]; then
 	# fallback to ssh-keygen's default file (for chmod later)
-	OUT="~/.ssh/id_$TYPE"
+	OUT="$HOME/.ssh/id_$TYPE"
 fi
 
 # permit error during key generation