diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/start.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/start.rs
index 619865daed..42e7aa0a4f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/start.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/filesystem/start.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ impl Command for Start {
         }
         // If it's not a URL, treat it as a file path
         let cwd = engine_state.cwd(Some(stack))?;
-        let full_path = cwd.join(path_no_whitespace);
+        let full_path = nu_path::expand_path_with(path_no_whitespace, &cwd, true);
+
         // Check if the path exists or if it's a valid file/directory
         if full_path.exists() {
             open_path(full_path, engine_state, stack, path.span)?;