diff --git a/jackrabbit-jcr-server/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/server/remoting/davex/JcrRemotingServlet.java b/jackrabbit-jcr-server/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/server/remoting/davex/JcrRemotingServlet.java
index 8b544e9..006a5ad 100644
--- a/jackrabbit-jcr-server/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/server/remoting/davex/JcrRemotingServlet.java
+++ b/jackrabbit-jcr-server/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/server/remoting/davex/JcrRemotingServlet.java
@@ -243,7 +243,10 @@ public abstract class JcrRemotingServlet extends JCRWebdavServerServlet {
         if (paramHome == null) {
             log.debug("missing init-param " + INIT_PARAM_HOME + ". using default: 'jackrabbit'");
             paramHome = "jackrabbit";
+        } else {
+            paramHome = Text.replaceVariables(System.getProperties(), paramHome, false);
         }
+        
         File home;
         try {
             home = new File(paramHome).getCanonicalFile();