diff --git a/tests/run_jenkins_tests.sh b/tests/run_jenkins_tests.sh
index 8f0c81535..6ddd479b2 100755
--- a/tests/run_jenkins_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_jenkins_tests.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ esac
 set -e
 set -x
 
-if [ -z "${HOME:-}" ]; then
+if [ "${HOME:-/}" = "/" ]; then
   export HOME="$PWD/home"
   mkdir "$HOME"
 fi