--- texmf.cnf.old	2008-05-22 15:05:38.000000000 +0200
+++ texmf.cnf	2008-05-22 14:47:55.000000000 +0200
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
 
 % User texmf trees are allowed as follows.
 % This used to be HOMETEXMF.
-TEXMFHOME = ~/texmf
+TEXMFHOME = $HOME/texmf
 
 % TEXMFVAR, where texconfig stores variable runtime data.
 % With teTeX-3.0 or later, this must be set.
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
 %   TEXMFVAR = $TEXMFMAIN
 % For using a separate tree:
 %   TEXMFVAR = ~/.texmf-var  # teTeX 3.0 default
-TEXMFVAR = ~/.texlive2008/texmf-var
+TEXMFVAR = $HOME/.texlive2008/texmf-var
 
 % TEXMFCONFIG, where texconfig stores configuration data.
 % With teTeX-3.0 or later, this must be set.
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 %   TEXMFCONFIG = ~/.texmf-config  # teTeX 3.0 default
 % For using a separate tree:
 %   TEXMFCONFIG = $SELFAUTOPARENT/texmf-config
-TEXMFCONFIG = ~/.texlive2008/texmf-config
+TEXMFCONFIG = $HOME/.texlive2008/texmf-config
 
 % Now, list all the texmf trees. If you have multiple trees you can
 % use shell brace notation, like this: