diff --git a/pylint/config/option_manager_mixin.py b/pylint/config/option_manager_mixin.py
index 5aa2323f0c..cf21a1d605 100644
--- a/pylint/config/option_manager_mixin.py
+++ b/pylint/config/option_manager_mixin.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def read_config_file(self, config_file=None, verbose=None):
         if config_file is None:
             config_file = self.config_file
         if config_file is not None:
-            config_file = os.path.expanduser(config_file)
+            config_file = os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(config_file))
             if not os.path.exists(config_file):
                 raise OSError(f"The config file {config_file} doesn't exist!")