diff --git a/debian/hudson.init b/debian/hudson.init
index ab644507d905637567fd666fd1b2dbcc09f04562..fc4dfbb88c2b9ab961d1185380ccf4fc5a177b6d 100644
--- a/debian/hudson.init
+++ b/debian/hudson.init
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ do_start()
     $DAEMON $DAEMON_ARGS --running && return 1
     
     # --user in daemon doesn't prepare these environment variables, so do so now
-    export HOME=~$(HUDSON_USER)
+    eval export HOME=~$HUDSON_USER
     export USER=$HUDSON_USER
     $DAEMON $DAEMON_ARGS -- $JAVA $JAVA_ARGS -jar $HUDSON_WAR $HUDSON_ARGS || return 2
 }