diff --git a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/mintMenu.py b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/mintMenu.py
index 41799db..832141f 100755
--- a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/mintMenu.py
+++ b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/mintMenu.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class MainWindow(object):
 
         self.window.stick()
 
-        plugindir = os.path.join(os.environ["HOME"], ".linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins")
+        plugindir = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins")
         sys.path.append(plugindir)
 
         self.panelSettings = Gio.Settings.new("org.mate.panel")
diff --git a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/applications.py b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/applications.py
index b463e07..5c2dbd6 100755
--- a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/applications.py
+++ b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/applications.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from plugins.easygsettings import EasyGSettings
 
 # i18n
 gettext.install("mintmenu", "/usr/share/linuxmint/locale")
-home = os.environ.get("HOME")
+home = os.path.expanduser("~")
 
 class PackageDescriptor():
     def __init__(self, name, summary, description):
diff --git a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/easybuttons.py b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/easybuttons.py
index 73836b6..cebd1ea 100755
--- a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/easybuttons.py
+++ b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/easybuttons.py
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ class ApplicationLauncher(easyButton):
             self.appComment         = self.appComment.strip()
 
             basename = os.path.basename(self.desktopFile)
-            self.startupFilePath = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], ".config/autostart", basename)
+            self.startupFilePath = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".config/autostart", basename)
             if self.startupMonitorId:
                 filemonitor.removeMonitor(self.startupMonitorId )
             if os.path.exists(self.startupFilePath):
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ class ApplicationLauncher(easyButton):
             os.remove(self.startupFilePath)
 
     def addToFavourites(self):
-        favouritesDir = os.path.join(os.environ['HOME'], ".linuxmint/mintMenu/applications")
+        favouritesDir = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".linuxmint/mintMenu/applications")
         if not os.path.exists(favouritesDir):
             os.makedirs(favouritesDir)
 
diff --git a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/places.py b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/places.py
index e6eb5fd..a1f795f 100755
--- a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/places.py
+++ b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/places.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from plugins.execute import Execute
 
 # i18n
 gettext.install("mintmenu", "/usr/share/linuxmint/locale")
-home = os.environ.get("HOME")
+home = os.path.expanduser("~")
 
 class pluginclass(object):
 
diff --git a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/recentHelper.py b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/recentHelper.py
index 5ee07e8..9f3d792 100644
--- a/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/recentHelper.py
+++ b/usr/lib/linuxmint/mintMenu/plugins/recentHelper.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from gi.repository import Gtk
 
 from plugins.easybuttons import ApplicationLauncher
 
-home = os.environ.get("HOME")
+home = os.path.expanduser("~")
 recentApps = []
 mintMenuWin = None
 recentAppBox = None