diff --git a/src/indicators/pwd.rs b/src/indicators/pwd.rs
index 4f0f320..b41a594 100644
--- a/src/indicators/pwd.rs
+++ b/src/indicators/pwd.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,19 @@ pub const PATH_COL: ansi_term::Colour = RGB(82, 82, 82);
 pub const REPO_COL: ansi_term::Colour = RGB(55, 120, 130);
 
 /// Find the current user's home directory.
-fn home_dir() -> String {
-    std::env::var("HOME").map_or_else(|_| String::new(), |path| path.to_string())
+fn home_dir() -> Option<String> {
+    // Try `passwd` file first
+    unsafe {
+        let pw = libc::getpwuid(libc::geteuid());
+        if !pw.is_null() {
+            let dir = std::ffi::CStr::from_ptr((*pw).pw_dir);
+            if let Ok(s) = dir.to_str() {
+                return Some(s.to_owned());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    // Fallback: `$HOME` env var
+    std::env::var("HOME").ok()
 }
 
 /// Returns the full path of the current directory as a string.
@@ -27,7 +38,12 @@ fn remove_repo(pwd_path: &str, repo_path: &str) -> String {
 
 /// Replace the 'home directory' part of the path with a the '~' symbol
 fn replace_home(path: &str) -> String {
-    path.replacen(&home_dir(), "~", 1)
+    if let Some(home) = home_dir() {
+        if path.starts_with(&home) {
+            return path.replacen(&home, "~", 1);
+        }
+    }
+    path.to_owned()
 }
 
 fn short(path: &str, slash_limit: u8) -> String {