diff --git a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
index fe4e55c227d..50d9f15c5f7 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/utils/__init__.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ def path_dwim(basedir, given):
 
     if given.startswith("/"):
         return given
-    elif given.startswith("~/"):
+    elif given.startswith("~"):
         return os.path.expanduser(given)
     else:
         return os.path.join(basedir, given)