diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/args.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/args.rs
index d308500..bc687ef 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/args.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/args.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2018-2024 the Deno authors. MIT license.
 
-use anyhow::bail;
-use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum ArgKind<'a> {
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@ pub enum ArgKind<'a> {
 }
 
 impl<'a> ArgKind<'a> {
-  pub fn bail_unsupported(&self) -> Result<()> {
+  pub fn bail_unsupported(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     match self {
       ArgKind::Arg(arg) => {
         bail!("unsupported argument: {}", arg)
@@ -26,31 +25,41 @@ impl<'a> ArgKind<'a> {
   }
 }
 
-pub fn parse_arg_kinds(flags: &[String]) -> Vec<ArgKind> {
+pub fn parse_arg_kinds(
+  flags: &mut [String],
+) -> Result<Vec<ArgKind>, anyhow::Error> {
   let mut result = Vec::new();
   let mut had_dash_dash = false;
-  for arg in flags {
+  let home_str = dirs::home_dir()
+    .context("Couldn't get home directory")?
+    .to_string_lossy()
+    .into_owned();
+  for arg in flags.iter_mut() {
     if had_dash_dash {
+      let arg_clone = arg.clone();
+      arg.replace_range(.., &arg_clone.replace('~', &home_str));
       result.push(ArgKind::Arg(arg));
     } else if arg == "-" {
       result.push(ArgKind::Arg("-"));
     } else if arg == "--" {
       had_dash_dash = true;
-    } else if let Some(flag) = arg.strip_prefix("--") {
-      result.push(ArgKind::LongFlag(flag));
-    } else if let Some(flags) = arg.strip_prefix('-') {
-      if flags.parse::<f64>().is_ok() {
+    } else if arg.starts_with("--") {
+      result.push(ArgKind::LongFlag(arg.strip_prefix("--").unwrap()));
+    } else if arg.starts_with('-') {
+      if arg.parse::<f64>().is_ok() {
         result.push(ArgKind::Arg(arg));
       } else {
-        for c in flags.chars() {
+        for c in arg.strip_prefix('-').unwrap().chars() {
           result.push(ArgKind::ShortFlag(c));
         }
       }
     } else {
+      let arg_clone = arg.clone();
+      arg.replace_range(.., &arg_clone.replace('~', &home_str));
       result.push(ArgKind::Arg(arg));
     }
   }
-  result
+  Ok(result)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -60,7 +69,7 @@ mod test {
 
   #[test]
   fn parses() {
-    let data = vec![
+    let mut data = vec![
       "-f".to_string(),
       "-ab".to_string(),
       "--force".to_string(),
@@ -72,9 +81,10 @@ mod test {
       "--test".to_string(),
       "-t".to_string(),
     ];
-    let args = parse_arg_kinds(&data);
+    let args = parse_arg_kinds(&mut data);
+    assert!(args.is_ok());
     assert_eq!(
-      args,
+      args.unwrap(),
       vec![
         ArgKind::ShortFlag('f'),
         ArgKind::ShortFlag('a'),
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cat.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cat.rs
index 674fe33..ce29669 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cat.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cat.rs
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ struct CatFlags {
   paths: Vec<String>,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<CatFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<CatFlags> {
   let mut paths = Vec::new();
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::Arg(file_name) => {
         paths.push(file_name.to_string());
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cd.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cd.rs
index b4e1c3a..fcf9af4 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cd.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cd.rs
@@ -45,12 +45,7 @@ fn execute_cd(cwd: &Path, args: Vec<String>) -> Result<PathBuf> {
     args.push("~".to_string());
   }
   let path = parse_args(args.clone())?;
-  let new_dir = if path == "~" {
-    dirs::home_dir()
-      .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("Home directory not found"))?
-  } else {
-    cwd.join(&path)
-  };
+  let new_dir = cwd.join(&path);
   let new_dir = match new_dir.parse_dot() {
     Ok(path) => path.to_path_buf(),
     // fallback to canonicalize path just in case
@@ -62,8 +57,8 @@ fn execute_cd(cwd: &Path, args: Vec<String>) -> Result<PathBuf> {
   Ok(new_dir)
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<String> {
-  let args = parse_arg_kinds(&args);
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<String> {
+  let args = parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)?;
   let mut paths = Vec::new();
   for arg in args {
     match arg {
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cp_mv.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cp_mv.rs
index 5647cfb..b1c1b01 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cp_mv.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/cp_mv.rs
@@ -133,10 +133,10 @@ struct CpFlags {
   operations: Vec<(PathWithSpecified, PathWithSpecified)>,
 }
 
-fn parse_cp_args(cwd: &Path, args: Vec<String>) -> Result<CpFlags> {
+fn parse_cp_args(cwd: &Path, mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<CpFlags> {
   let mut paths = Vec::new();
   let mut recursive = false;
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::Arg(arg) => {
         paths.push(arg);
@@ -211,9 +211,9 @@ struct MvFlags {
   operations: Vec<(PathWithSpecified, PathWithSpecified)>,
 }
 
-fn parse_mv_args(cwd: &Path, args: Vec<String>) -> Result<MvFlags> {
+fn parse_mv_args(cwd: &Path, mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<MvFlags> {
   let mut paths = Vec::new();
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::Arg(arg) => {
         paths.push(arg);
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/exit.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/exit.rs
index 5222c61..7f87871 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/exit.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/exit.rs
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ fn execute_exit(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<i32> {
   })
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<i32> {
-  let args = parse_arg_kinds(&args);
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<i32> {
+  let args = parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)?;
   let mut paths = Vec::new();
   for arg in args {
     match arg {
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/head.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/head.rs
index bef3a46..9ebf3da 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/head.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/head.rs
@@ -113,10 +113,10 @@ struct HeadFlags {
   lines: u64,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<HeadFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<HeadFlags> {
   let mut path: Option<String> = None;
   let mut lines: Option<u64> = None;
-  let mut iterator = parse_arg_kinds(&args).into_iter();
+  let mut iterator = parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)?.into_iter();
   while let Some(arg) = iterator.next() {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::Arg(file_name) => {
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/mkdir.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/mkdir.rs
index 25636ca..b074fc9 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/mkdir.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/mkdir.rs
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ struct MkdirFlags {
   paths: Vec<String>,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<MkdirFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<MkdirFlags> {
   let mut result = MkdirFlags::default();
 
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::LongFlag("parents") | ArgKind::ShortFlag('p') => {
         result.parents = true;
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/pwd.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/pwd.rs
index 9da211c..c93dbc1 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/pwd.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/pwd.rs
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ struct PwdFlags {
   logical: bool,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<PwdFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<PwdFlags> {
   let mut logical = false;
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::ShortFlag('L') => {
         logical = true;
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/rm.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/rm.rs
index 72c1410..ed85fea 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/rm.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/rm.rs
@@ -89,10 +89,10 @@ struct RmFlags {
   paths: Vec<String>,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<RmFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<RmFlags> {
   let mut result = RmFlags::default();
 
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::LongFlag("recursive")
       | ArgKind::ShortFlag('r')
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/sleep.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/sleep.rs
index f1e68e6..89da117 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/sleep.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/sleep.rs
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ fn parse_arg(arg: &str) -> Result<f64> {
   Ok(arg.parse()?)
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<u64> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<u64> {
   // the time to sleep is the sum of all the arguments
   let mut total_time_ms = 0;
   let mut had_value = false;
-  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&args) {
+  for arg in parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)? {
     match arg {
       ArgKind::Arg(arg) => match parse_arg(arg) {
         Ok(value_s) => {
diff --git a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/xargs.rs b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/xargs.rs
index 7ff01e1..9839f6d 100644
--- a/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/xargs.rs
+++ b/crates/deno_task_shell/src/shell/commands/xargs.rs
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ struct XargsFlags {
   is_null_delimited: bool,
 }
 
-fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<XargsFlags> {
+fn parse_args(mut args: Vec<String>) -> Result<XargsFlags> {
   fn parse_delimiter(arg: &str) -> Result<char> {
     let mut chars = arg.chars();
     if let Some(first_char) = chars.next() {
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ fn parse_args(args: Vec<String>) -> Result<XargsFlags> {
 
   let mut initial_args = Vec::new();
   let mut delimiter = None;
-  let mut iterator = parse_arg_kinds(&args).into_iter();
+  let mut iterator = parse_arg_kinds(&mut args)?.into_iter();
   let mut is_null_delimited = false;
   while let Some(arg) = iterator.next() {
     match arg {
diff --git a/crates/shell/src/commands.rs b/crates/shell/src/commands.rs
index 1467dda..432abcb 100644
--- a/crates/shell/src/commands.rs
+++ b/crates/shell/src/commands.rs
@@ -16,10 +16,18 @@ impl ShellCommand for LsCommand {
 fn execute_ls(context: ShellCommandContext) -> ExecuteResult {
     let mut args: Vec<OsString> = vec![OsString::from("ls"), OsString::from("--color=auto")];
 
-    context
-        .args
-        .iter()
-        .for_each(|arg| args.push(OsString::from(arg)));
+    context.args.iter().for_each(|arg| {
+        let expanded_arg = if arg.contains('~') {
+            if let Some(home_dir) = dirs::home_dir() {
+                arg.replace('~', home_dir.to_str().unwrap_or("~"))
+            } else {
+                arg.to_string()
+            }
+        } else {
+            arg.to_string()
+        };
+        args.push(OsString::from(expanded_arg));
+    });
 
     let exit_code = uu_ls(args.into_iter());
     ExecuteResult::from_exit_code(exit_code)