diff --git a/src/expand.cpp b/src/expand.cpp
index 37de2f2f0..4d0352579 100644
--- a/src/expand.cpp
+++ b/src/expand.cpp
@@ -834,11 +834,8 @@ static void expand_home_directory(wcstring &input, const environment_t &vars) {
             }
         }
 
-        maybe_t<wcstring> realhome;
-        if (home) realhome = normalize_path(*home);
-
-        if (realhome) {
-            input.replace(input.begin(), input.begin() + tail_idx, *realhome);
+        if (home) {
+            input.replace(input.begin(), input.begin() + tail_idx, normalize_path(*home));
         } else {
             input[0] = L'~';
         }