diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1b833b8a1..4ef8516e9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ BUG FIXES:
   - guests/fedora: do not use biosdevname if it is not installed [GH-5707]
   - guests/freebsd: provide an argument to the backup file [GH-5516, GH-5517]
   - guests/funtoo: fix incorrect path in configure networks [GH-4812]
+  - guests/linux: fix edge case exception where no home directory
+      is available on guest [GH-5846]
   - guests/openbsd: output newline after inserted public key [GH-5881]
   - guests/tinycore: fix change hostname functionality [GH-5623]
   - guests/windows: Create rsync folder prior to rsync-ing. [GH-5282]
diff --git a/plugins/guests/linux/cap/shell_expand_guest_path.rb b/plugins/guests/linux/cap/shell_expand_guest_path.rb
index 341c0a1a8..cc32d7f7c 100644
--- a/plugins/guests/linux/cap/shell_expand_guest_path.rb
+++ b/plugins/guests/linux/cap/shell_expand_guest_path.rb
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ module VagrantPlugins
             end
           end
 
-          # The last line is the path we care about
-          real_path = real_path.split("\n").last.chomp
+          if real_path
+            # The last line is the path we care about
+            real_path = real_path.split("\n").last.chomp
+          end
 
           if !real_path
             # If no real guest path was detected, this is really strange