diff --git a/lib/tugboat/config.rb b/lib/tugboat/config.rb
index a28994f..20515a1 100644
--- a/lib/tugboat/config.rb
+++ b/lib/tugboat/config.rb
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def reload!
     def create_config_file(client, api, ssh_key_path, ssh_user, ssh_port, region, image, size, ssh_key, private_networking, backups_enabled)
       # Default SSH Key path
       if ssh_key_path.empty?
-        ssh_key_path = File.join(File.expand_path("~"), DEFAULT_SSH_KEY_PATH)
+        ssh_key_path = File.join("~", DEFAULT_SSH_KEY_PATH)
       end
 
       if ssh_user.empty?
diff --git a/lib/tugboat/middleware/ssh_droplet.rb b/lib/tugboat/middleware/ssh_droplet.rb
index 735e87a..53cade0 100644
--- a/lib/tugboat/middleware/ssh_droplet.rb
+++ b/lib/tugboat/middleware/ssh_droplet.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ def call(env)
           "-o", "LogLevel=ERROR",
           "-o", "StrictHostKeyChecking=no",
           "-o", "UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null",
-          "-i", env["config"].ssh_key_path.to_s]
+          "-i", File.expand_path(env["config"].ssh_key_path.to_s)]
 
         if env["user_droplet_ssh_port"]
           options.push("-p", env["user_droplet_ssh_port"].to_s)
diff --git a/spec/middleware/ssh_droplet_spec.rb b/spec/middleware/ssh_droplet_spec.rb
index e2c4954..ee124a2 100644
--- a/spec/middleware/ssh_droplet_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/middleware/ssh_droplet_spec.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
                         "-o", "LogLevel=ERROR",
                         "-o", "StrictHostKeyChecking=no",
                         "-o", "UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null",
-                        "-i", ssh_key_path,
+                        "-i", File.expand_path(ssh_key_path),
                         "-p", ssh_port,
                         "#{ssh_user}@#{droplet_ip_private}")
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
                         "-o", "LogLevel=ERROR",
                         "-o", "StrictHostKeyChecking=no",
                         "-o", "UserKnownHostsFile=/dev/null",
-                        "-i", ssh_key_path,
+                        "-i", File.expand_path(ssh_key_path),
                         "-p", ssh_port,
                         "-e",
                         "-q",