diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index cf0202b7..138a307e 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ const struct options_table_entry session_options_table[] = {
 
 	{ .name = "default-path",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
-	  .default_str = ""
+	  .default_str = "~"
 	},
 
 	{ .name = "default-shell",
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index 7a01b394..61158872 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -2173,13 +2173,15 @@ to create a login shell using the value of the
 option.
 .It Ic default-path Ar path
 Set the default working directory for new panes.
-If empty (the default), the working directory is determined from the process
+If empty, the working directory is determined from the process
 running in the active pane, from the command line environment or from the
 working directory where the session was created.
 Otherwise the same options are available as for the
 .Fl c
 flag to
 .Ic new-window .
+The default is
+.Ql ~ .
 .It Ic default-shell Ar path
 Specify the default shell.
 This is used as the login shell for new windows when the