diff --git a/lib/chef-dk/helpers.rb b/lib/chef-dk/helpers.rb
index 3e06b2ead..b2e129cf0 100644
--- a/lib/chef-dk/helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/chef-dk/helpers.rb
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def omnibus_env
           {
             'PATH' => "#{omnibus_bin_dir}:#{user_bin_dir}:#{omnibus_embedded_bin_dir}:#{ENV['PATH']}",
             'GEM_ROOT' => Gem.default_dir.inspect,
-            'GEM_HOME' => Gem.paths.home,
+            'GEM_HOME' => Gem.user_dir,
             'GEM_PATH' => Gem.path.join(':'),
           }
         end
diff --git a/spec/unit/command/exec_spec.rb b/spec/unit/command/exec_spec.rb
index 737d0120f..ba14724b4 100644
--- a/spec/unit/command/exec_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/command/exec_spec.rb
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ def run_command
 
       let(:expected_GEM_ROOT) { Gem.default_dir.inspect }
 
-      let(:expected_GEM_HOME) { ENV['GEM_HOME'] }
+      let(:expected_GEM_HOME) { Gem.user_dir }
 
       let(:expected_GEM_PATH) { Gem.path.join(':') }
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def run_command
 
       let(:expected_GEM_ROOT) { Gem.default_dir.inspect }
 
-      let(:expected_GEM_HOME) { ENV['GEM_HOME'] }
+      let(:expected_GEM_HOME) { Gem.user_dir }
 
       let(:expected_GEM_PATH) { Gem.path.join(':') }
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/command/shell_init_spec.rb b/spec/unit/command/shell_init_spec.rb
index b34b8181e..e5b2e2d9c 100644
--- a/spec/unit/command/shell_init_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/command/shell_init_spec.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
   let(:expected_gem_root) { Gem.default_dir.to_s }
 
-  let(:expected_gem_home) { ENV['GEM_HOME'] }
+  let(:expected_gem_home) { Gem.user_dir }
 
   let(:expected_gem_path) { Gem.path.join(':') }