diff --git a/tekuti/util.scm b/tekuti/util.scm
index e77d255..fe77c90 100644
--- a/tekuti/util.scm
+++ b/tekuti/util.scm
@@ -102,8 +102,10 @@
       (display #\'))))
 
 (define (expanduser path)
-  (let ((parts (string-split path #\/)))
-    (if (eqv? (string-ref (car parts) 0) #\~)
+  (let* ((parts (string-split path #\/))
+         (part (car parts)))
+    (if (and (not (string-null? part))
+             (eqv? (string-ref part 0) #\~))
         (let ((user (if (= (string-length (car parts)) 1)
                         (passwd:name (getpwuid (geteuid)))
                         (substring (car parts) 1))))