diff --git a/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml b/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
index 1e94d56492d..70cef6707cc 100644
--- a/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
+++ b/etc/spack/defaults/config.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 config:
   # This is the path to the root of the Spack install tree.
   # You can use $spack here to refer to the root of the spack instance.
-  install_tree: $spack/opt/spack
+  install_tree: ~/.spack/opt/spack
 
 
   # Locations where templates should be found