diff --git a/src/mu-config.c b/src/mu-config.c
index 9c1928a9..d787b1bc 100644
--- a/src/mu-config.c
+++ b/src/mu-config.c
@@ -123,8 +123,16 @@ config_options_group_mu (MuConfig *opts)
 static void
 set_group_index_defaults (MuConfig * opts)
 {
+	char *exp;
+
 	if (!opts->maildir)
 		opts->maildir = mu_util_guess_maildir ();
+
+	exp = mu_util_dir_expand(opts->maildir);
+	if (exp) {
+		g_free(opts->maildir);
+		opts->maildir = exp;
+	}
 }
 
 static GOptionGroup*