diff --git a/src/option.c b/src/option.c
index 1bb9e29..0cd2823 100644
--- a/src/option.c
+++ b/src/option.c
@@ -384,6 +384,8 @@
     char_u	*xdg_rtp = NULL;
     char_u	*vimrc_xdg = NULL;
 
+    // initialize chartab, so we can expand $HOME
+    (void)init_chartab();
     vimrc1 = expand_env_save((char_u *)USR_VIMRC_FILE);
     vimrc2 = expand_env_save((char_u *)USR_VIMRC_FILE2);