diff --git a/jupyter_client/launcher.py b/jupyter_client/launcher.py
index 3dcaec4d6..0da669a19 100644
--- a/jupyter_client/launcher.py
+++ b/jupyter_client/launcher.py
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ def launch_kernel(cmd, stdin=None, stdout=None, stderr=None, env=None,
             env['JPY_PARENT_PID'] = str(os.getpid())
 
     try:
+        # Allow to use ~/ in the command or its arguments
+        cmd = list(map(os.path.expanduser, cmd))
+
         proc = Popen(cmd, **kwargs)
     except Exception as exc:
         msg = (