diff --git a/core/core-editor.el b/core/core-editor.el
index 62a8deeef..8bb87c3da 100644
--- a/core/core-editor.el
+++ b/core/core-editor.el
@@ -306,8 +306,10 @@ tell you about it. Very annoying. This prevents that."
         (abbreviate-file-name (file-truename (tramp-file-name-localname tfile)))
       file))
 
-  ;; Anything in the runtime folders (i.e. $XDG_RUNTIME_DIR)
-  (add-to-list 'recentf-exclude "^/run")
+  ;; Anything in runtime folders
+  (add-to-list 'recentf-exclude
+               (concat "^" (regexp-quote (or (getenv "XDG_RUNTIME_DIR")
+                                             "/run"))))
 
   ;; Resolve symlinks, strip out the /sudo:X@ prefix in local tramp paths, and
   ;; abbreviate $HOME -> ~ in filepaths (more portable, more readable, & saves