diff --git a/pkg/salt.bash b/pkg/salt.bash
index 480361fe23..10129cc10d 100644
--- a/pkg/salt.bash
+++ b/pkg/salt.bash
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ _salt_get_keys(){
 }
 
 _salt(){
-    local _salt_cache_functions=${SALT_COMP_CACHE_FUNCTIONS:='~/.cache/salt-comp-cache_functions'}
-    local _salt_cache_timeout=${SALT_COMP_CACHE_TIMEOUT:='last hour'}
+    local _salt_cache_functions=${SALT_COMP_CACHE_FUNCTIONS:-"$HOME/.cache/salt-comp-cache_functions"}
+    local _salt_cache_timeout=${SALT_COMP_CACHE_TIMEOUT:-"last hour"}
 
     if [ ! -d "$(dirname ${_salt_cache_functions})" ]; then
         mkdir -p "$(dirname ${_salt_cache_functions})"