diff --git a/dotdrop/templategen.py b/dotdrop/templategen.py
index 06138d3..5a0c5e5 100644
--- a/dotdrop/templategen.py
+++ b/dotdrop/templategen.py
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ class Templategen:
 
     def is_template(path):
         """recursively check if any file is a template within path"""
+        path = os.path.expanduser(path)
         if not os.path.exists(path):
             return False
         if os.path.isfile(path):