diff --git a/bin/foamEtcFile b/bin/foamEtcFile
index 7cea635885645ae3ad6f712d477b15415ea2ee5a..5bae566b55a1509d8f2f65048882fe0b7af41f7b 100755
--- a/bin/foamEtcFile
+++ b/bin/foamEtcFile
@@ -195,9 +195,10 @@ done
 # done
 
 
-# Save the essential bits of information:
+# Save the essential bits of information
+# silently remove leading ~OpenFOAM/ (used in Foam::findEtcFile)
 nArgs=$#
-fileName="$1"
+fileName="${1#~OpenFOAM/}"
 
 # Define the various places to be searched:
 unset dirList