diff --git a/monkey/monkey_island/setup/island_config_options.py b/monkey/monkey_island/setup/island_config_options.py
index bf1c06e1b..938c840a0 100644
--- a/monkey/monkey_island/setup/island_config_options.py
+++ b/monkey/monkey_island/setup/island_config_options.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import os
+
 from monkey_island.cc.server_utils.consts import (
     DEFAULT_DATA_DIR,
     DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL,
@@ -9,7 +11,7 @@ from monkey_island.cc.server_utils.consts import (
 
 class IslandConfigOptions:
     def __init__(self, config_contents: dict):
-        self.data_dir = config_contents.get("data_dir", DEFAULT_DATA_DIR)
+        self.data_dir = os.path.expanduser(config_contents.get("data_dir", DEFAULT_DATA_DIR))
 
         self.log_level = config_contents.get("log_level", DEFAULT_LOG_LEVEL)