diff --git a/testing/test_junitxml.py b/testing/test_junitxml.py
index 0004bd7dd..446014963 100644
--- a/testing/test_junitxml.py
+++ b/testing/test_junitxml.py
@@ -383,16 +383,18 @@ def test_invalid_xml_escape():
     for i in valid:
         assert chr(i) == bin_xml_escape(unichr(i)).uniobj
 
-def test_logxml_path_expansion():
+def test_logxml_path_expansion(tmpdir, monkeypatch):
     from _pytest.junitxml import LogXML
 
     home_tilde = os.path.normpath(os.path.expanduser('~/test.xml'))
-    # this is here for when $HOME is not set correct
-    home_var = os.path.normpath(os.path.expandvars('$HOME/test.xml'))
 
     xml_tilde = LogXML('~/test.xml', None)
     assert xml_tilde.logfile == home_tilde
 
+    # this is here for when $HOME is not set correct
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HOME", tmpdir)
+    home_var = os.path.normpath(os.path.expandvars('$HOME/test.xml'))
+
     xml_var = LogXML('$HOME/test.xml', None)
     assert xml_var.logfile == home_var