diff --git a/docs/configuration.rst b/docs/configuration.rst
index 00fe43d..628f579 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.rst
+++ b/docs/configuration.rst
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ Setting a specific logfile
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 When instantiating your ``Status`` object, the path to a log file can be
-specified. If this is done, then log messages will be sent to that file and not
+specified (it accepts environment variables). If this is done, then log messages will be sent to that file and not
 to an ``.i3pystatus-<pid-of-thread>`` file in your home directory.  This is
 useful in that it helps keep your home directory from becoming cluttered with
 files containing errors.
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ files containing errors.
 
     from i3pystatus import Status
 
-    status = Status(logfile='/home/username/var/i3pystatus.log')
+    status = Status(logfile='$HOME/var/i3pystatus.log')
 
 Changing log format
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/__init__.py b/i3pystatus/core/__init__.py
index 1c0a9d1..74967dc 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/__init__.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/__init__.py
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class Status:
         if logfile:
             for handler in logger.handlers:
                 logger.removeHandler(handler)
+            logfile = os.path.expandvars(logfile)
             handler = logging.FileHandler(logfile, delay=True)
             logger.addHandler(handler)
             logger.setLevel(logging.CRITICAL)