diff --git a/packaging/standalone/install.envsubst b/packaging/standalone/install.envsubst
index 1b2e699b93..971fb8a19d 100644
--- a/packaging/standalone/install.envsubst
+++ b/packaging/standalone/install.envsubst
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ after_finish_help() {
 	case "${SHELL:-}" in
 	*/zsh)
 		info "rtx: run the following to activate rtx in your shell:"
-		info "echo \"eval \\\"\\\$($install_path activate zsh)\\\"\" >> \"${ZDOTDIR-~}/.zshrc\""
+		info "echo \"eval \\\"\\\$($install_path activate zsh)\\\"\" >> \"${ZDOTDIR-$HOME}/.zshrc\""
 		info ""
 		info "rtx: this must be run in order to use rtx in the terminal"
 		info "rtx: run \`rtx doctor\` to verify this is setup correctly"