diff --git a/init/service.cpp b/init/service.cpp
index cba42c4fd..6d08cb14a 100644
--- a/init/service.cpp
+++ b/init/service.cpp
@@ -756,6 +756,11 @@ Result<Success> Service::ParseFile(std::vector<std::string>&& args) {
     if (args[2] != "r" && args[2] != "w" && args[2] != "rw") {
         return Error() << "file type must be 'r', 'w' or 'rw'";
     }
+    std::string expanded;
+    if (!expand_props(args[1], &expanded)) {
+        return Error() << "Could not expand property in file path '" << args[1] << "'";
+    }
+    args[1] = std::move(expanded);
     if ((args[1][0] != '/') || (args[1].find("../") != std::string::npos)) {
         return Error() << "file name must not be relative";
     }