diff --git a/collects/syntax/modresolve.rkt b/collects/syntax/modresolve.rkt
index 3faaa9c638..ad80cf8918 100644
--- a/collects/syntax/modresolve.rkt
+++ b/collects/syntax/modresolve.rkt
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
         [(and (or (not (pair? s)) (not (list? s))) (not (path? s)))
          #f]
         [(or (path? s) (eq? (car s) 'file))
-         (let ([p (if (path? s) s (cadr s))])
+         (let ([p (if (path? s) s (expand-user-path (cadr s)))])
            (path-ss->rkt
             (path->complete-path
              p (let ([d (get-dir)])
diff --git a/collects/tests/racket/moddep.rktl b/collects/tests/racket/moddep.rktl
index b6cfcf267f..2ebc116810 100644
--- a/collects/tests/racket/moddep.rktl
+++ b/collects/tests/racket/moddep.rktl
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@
 (err/rt-test (resolve-module-path-index "apple.ss" #f))
 (err/rt-test (resolve-module-path-index (module-path-index-join #f #f) #f) exn:fail?)
 
+(test (expand-user-path "~/x.rkt") resolve-module-path '(file "~/x.rkt") #f)
+
 ;; ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 ;; collapse-module-path[-index]