diff --git a/src/ui/file_tree.rs b/src/ui/file_tree.rs
index 2eedc38d..07dcf014 100644
--- a/src/ui/file_tree.rs
+++ b/src/ui/file_tree.rs
@@ -782,9 +782,9 @@ impl Tty7App {
         }
         if roots.is_empty()
             && id.is_local()
-            && let Some(home) = std::env::var_os("HOME")
+            && let Some(home) = crate::ui::path_display::local_home()
         {
-            roots.push(PathBuf::from(home));
+            roots.push(home);
         }
         let _ = window;
         let Some(code) = self.tab_code_mut_or_init() else {
diff --git a/src/ui/presets.rs b/src/ui/presets.rs
index d6b3a1e3..084642b9 100644
--- a/src/ui/presets.rs
+++ b/src/ui/presets.rs
@@ -941,9 +941,9 @@ impl FillFile {
 fn expand_path(p: &str) -> PathBuf {
     let p = p.trim();
     if let Some(rest) = p.strip_prefix("~/")
-        && let Some(home) = std::env::var_os("HOME")
+        && let Some(home) = crate::ui::path_display::local_home()
     {
-        return PathBuf::from(home).join(rest);
+        return home.join(rest);
     }
     let path = PathBuf::from(p);
     if path.is_absolute() {
diff --git a/src/ui/sftp.rs b/src/ui/sftp.rs
index e723fd15..ba369bf5 100644
--- a/src/ui/sftp.rs
+++ b/src/ui/sftp.rs
@@ -310,11 +310,14 @@ fn mode_string(mode: u32) -> String {
     )
 }
 
+/// Where a download lands when nothing else says.
+///
+/// The relative `.` is a last resort rather than a failure because a
+/// download has to be offered somewhere; every other caller of
+/// [`path_display::local_home`](crate::ui::path_display::local_home) wants
+/// the `None` and shows the path whole instead.
 fn local_home() -> PathBuf {
-    std::env::var_os("HOME")
-        .or_else(|| std::env::var_os("USERPROFILE"))
-        .map(PathBuf::from)
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("."))
+    crate::ui::path_display::local_home().unwrap_or_else(|| PathBuf::from("."))
 }
 
 fn local_download_dir() -> PathBuf {