diff --git a/src/cli/init.go b/src/cli/init.go
index b420618..96680c9 100644
--- a/src/cli/init.go
+++ b/src/cli/init.go
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ package cli
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/backend"
-	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/sync"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/backend"
+	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/sync"
 )
 
 // TempInitCli initializes the MUTN environment based on user input (will be replaced with a TUI menu)
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ func TempInitCli() {
 		sshUser := input("Remote SSH username:")
 		sshPort := input("Remote SSH port:")
 		sshIP := input("Remote SSH IP/domain:")
-		sshKey := input("SSH private identity file path:") // TODO implement generator and selector
+		sshKey := expandPathWithHome(input("SSH private identity file path:")) // TODO implement generator and selector
 		sshKeyProtected := inputBinary("Is the identity file password-protected?")
 
 		// initialize libmutton directories
diff --git a/src/cli/utilitiesMisc.go b/src/cli/utilitiesMisc.go
index 0874836..aa7d13b 100644
--- a/src/cli/utilitiesMisc.go
+++ b/src/cli/utilitiesMisc.go
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ package cli
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/backend"
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/terminal"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/rwinkhart/MUTN/src/backend"
+	"golang.org/x/crypto/ssh/terminal"
 )
 
 // input prompts the user for input and returns the input as a string
@@ -76,3 +77,8 @@ func writeEntryCLI(targetLocation string, unencryptedEntry []string, hideSecrets
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }
+
+// expandPathWithHome, given a path (as a string) containing "~", returns the path with "~" expanded to the user's home directory
+func expandPathWithHome(path string) string {
+	return strings.Replace(path, "~", backend.Home, 1)
+}