diff --git a/jl/stage0.jl b/jl/stage0.jl
index 934ced3dc40b8..c63af49202ab6 100644
--- a/jl/stage0.jl
+++ b/jl/stage0.jl
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ end
 include("sysimg.jl")
 
 ccall(:jl_save_system_image, Void, (Ptr{Uint8},Ptr{Uint8}),
-      "sys0.ji", "jl/start_image.jl")
+      "$JULIA_HOME/sys0.ji", "start_image.jl")
 
 end # module
diff --git a/jl/stage1.jl b/jl/stage1.jl
index 42b707788cb25..c07066dd1e741 100644
--- a/jl/stage1.jl
+++ b/jl/stage1.jl
@@ -11,6 +11,6 @@ begin
 end
 
 ccall(:jl_save_system_image, Void, (Ptr{Uint8},Ptr{Uint8}),
-      "sys.ji", "jl/start_image.jl")
+      "$JULIA_HOME/sys.ji", "start_image.jl")
 
 end # module