diff --git a/commands/global.bones b/commands/global.bones
index aefdcd4..54dfb94 100644
--- a/commands/global.bones
+++ b/commands/global.bones
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+var os = reuqire('os');
 var path = require('path');
 
 Bones.Command.options['uiPort'] = {
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ Bones.Command.options['subdomains'] = {
 Bones.Command.options['tiles'] = {
     'title': 'tiles=[path]',
     'description': 'Path to tiles directory.',
-    'default': path.join(process.env.HOME, 'Documents', 'MapBox', 'tiles')
+    'default': path.join(os.homedir(), 'Documents', 'MapBox', 'tiles')
 };
 
 Bones.Command.options['accesslog'] = {
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index ff4d83a..2e8a0fe 100755
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,15 +1,11 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
+var os = require('os');
 
 // increase the libuv threadpool size to 1.5x the number of logical CPUs.
-process.env.UV_THREADPOOL_SIZE = Math.ceil(Math.max(4, require('os').cpus().length * 1.5));
+process.env.UV_THREADPOOL_SIZE = Math.ceil(Math.max(4, os.cpus().length * 1.5));
 
 process.title = 'tilestream';
 
-if (process.platform === 'win32') {
-    // HOME is undefined on windows
-    process.env.HOME = process.env.USERPROFILE;
-}
-
 var tilelive = require('tilelive');
 require('mbtiles').registerProtocols(tilelive);
 
diff --git a/lib/bootstrap.js b/lib/bootstrap.js
index 89ec9d0..dfaba82 100644
--- a/lib/bootstrap.js
+++ b/lib/bootstrap.js
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 var fs = require('fs');
+var os = require('os');
 var path = require('path');
 var util = require('util');
 var existsSync = require('fs').existsSync || require('path').existsSync;
 
+let homedir = os.homedir()
+
 function mkdirpSync(p, mode) {
     var ps = path.normalize(p).split('/');
     var created = [];
@@ -20,7 +23,7 @@ module.exports = function(settings, callback) {
     try {
         fs.statSync(settings.tiles);
     } catch (Exception) {
-        if (!process.env.HOME) {
+        if (!homedir) {
             console.log('Could not locate home directory. Set location manually with the --tiles option.');
             process.exit(1);
         } else {