diff --git a/lib/node/config.js b/lib/node/config.js
index 4d0f8f7d..41fb90a3 100644
--- a/lib/node/config.js
+++ b/lib/node/config.js
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ config.toOptions = function toOptions(data) {
   options.sigcacheSize = num(data.sigcachesize);
 
   // Node
-  options.prefix = path(prefix, prefix);
+  options.prefix = path(prefix);
   options.db = str(data.db);
   options.maxFiles = num(data.maxfiles);
   options.cacheSize = mul(data.cachesize, 1024 * 1024);
@@ -738,7 +738,8 @@ function path(value, prefix) {
       value = util.HOME + value.substring(1);
       break;
     case '@': // prefix
-      value = prefix + value.substring(1);
+      if (prefix)
+        value = prefix + value.substring(1);
       break;
     default: // cwd
       break;