diff --git a/bin/git-ignore b/bin/git-ignore
index aa90597..0938297 100755
--- a/bin/git-ignore
+++ b/bin/git-ignore
@@ -29,9 +29,10 @@ function add_local {
 
 function add_patterns {
   echo "Adding pattern(s) to: $1"
+  local file="${1/#~/$HOME}"
   for pattern in "${@:2}"; do
     echo "... adding '$pattern'"
-    (test -f "$1" && test "$pattern" && grep -q "$pattern" "$1") || echo "$pattern" >> "$1"
+    (test -f "$file" && test "$pattern" && grep -q "$pattern" "$file") || echo "$pattern" >> "$file"
   done
 }