diff --git a/bin/sh/main.c b/bin/sh/main.c
index 2135d30af77c..2da5a15a9276 100644
--- a/bin/sh/main.c
+++ b/bin/sh/main.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 state1:
 		state = 2;
 		if (privileged == 0)
-			read_profile(".profile");
+			read_profile("${HOME-}/.profile");
 		else
 			read_profile("/etc/suid_profile");
 	}