diff --git a/IPython/utils/tests/test_path.py b/IPython/utils/tests/test_path.py
index 2310705..fe6d6ed 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/tests/test_path.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/tests/test_path.py
@@ -159,9 +159,8 @@ def test_get_home_dir_4():
     """get_home_dir() still works if $HOME is not set"""
 
     if 'HOME' in env: del env['HOME']
-    # this should still succeed, but we don't know what the answer should be
-    home = path.get_home_dir(True)
-    nt.assert_true(path._writable_dir(home))
+    # this should still succeed, but we don't care what the answer is
+    home = path.get_home_dir(False)
 
 @with_environment
 def test_get_home_dir_5():