diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 7ab00d2b..972b2f31 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 (Format: Year/Month/Day)
 Changes for 0.9.16:
 *06/04/17:
+   * Fix /bin/sh portability for fbsetbg and startfluxbox (Simon)
+     (fluxbox-generate_menu is seriously broken wrt portability 
+     atm though :-/)
+     fbsetbg startfluxbox.in
    * Make autogen.sh properly /bin/sh portable (Simon)
      Fixes #1445464
      autogen.sh
diff --git a/util/fbsetbg b/util/fbsetbg
index 5e58e197..b633222c 100644
--- a/util/fbsetbg
+++ b/util/fbsetbg
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 # _NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP
 
 # The wallpapersetter is selected in this order
-wpsetters=${wpsetters:=Esetroot wmsetbg feh hsetroot chbg display qiv xv xsri xli xsetbg} # broken icewmbg'
-lastwallpaper=${HOME}/.fluxbox/lastwallpaper
+wpsetters="${wpsetters:=Esetroot wmsetbg feh hsetroot chbg display qiv xv xsri xli xsetbg}" # broken icewmbg'
+lastwallpaper="${HOME}/.fluxbox/lastwallpaper"
 
 
 WHOAMI=`whoami`
@@ -200,8 +200,8 @@ if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
 fi
 
 # create directory and last wallpaper file 
-if [ ! -d  ~/.fluxbox ]; then
-	mkdir ~/.fluxbox
+if [ ! -d  "$HOME/.fluxbox" ]; then
+	mkdir "$HOME/.fluxbox"
     touch ${lastwallpaper}
 fi
 
@@ -482,20 +482,20 @@ fi
 # random wallpaper code
 if [ "$option" = random ]; then
     # Lets make one thing clear...
-    wallpaperdir=$wallpaper
+    wallpaperdir="$wallpaper"
     if [ -z "$wallpaperdir" ]; then
         message "No random wallpaper directory specified."
         exit 1
     fi
     if [ -d "$wallpaperdir" ]; then
-        number_of_wallpapers=`ls $wallpaperdir|wc -l`
+        number_of_wallpapers=`ls "$wallpaperdir"|wc -l`
         if find_it random_number; then
-            randomnumber=$(random_number)
+            randomnumber=`random_number`
         # some shells don't support $RANDOM
-        elif [ -z $RANDOM ]; then
+        elif [ -z "$RANDOM" ]; then
             randomnumber=`(echo $$ ;time ps; w ; date )2>&1 | cksum | cut -f1 -d' '`
         else
-            randomnumber=$RANDOM
+            randomnumber="$RANDOM"
         fi
         wallpapernumber=`expr $randomnumber % $number_of_wallpapers + 1`
         #remember previous wallpaper
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ if [ "$option" = random ]; then
         fi
         remember=false
         #set -x
-        wallpaper="$wallpaperdir/`ls $wallpaperdir|sed -n ${wallpapernumber}p`"
+        wallpaper="$wallpaperdir/`ls \"$wallpaperdir\"|sed -n ${wallpapernumber}p`"
         option='$aspect' # have to choose something...
     else
         message "Invalid random wallpaper directory specified."
diff --git a/util/startfluxbox.in b/util/startfluxbox.in
index 920fb5e6..6be6236f 100755
--- a/util/startfluxbox.in
+++ b/util/startfluxbox.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # $Id$
 
 command="`basename \"$0\"`"
-startup=~/.fluxbox/startup
+startup="$HOME/.fluxbox/startup"
 
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
     case "$1" in
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ if [ -x "$startup" ]; then
 elif [ -r "$startup" ]; then
     exec sh "$startup"
 else
-    if [ ! -d ~/.fluxbox ]; then
-        mkdir -p ~/.fluxbox/backgrounds ~/.fluxbox/styles ~/.fluxbox/pixmaps
+    if [ ! -d "$HOME/.fluxbox" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$HOME/.fluxbox/backgrounds" "$HOME/.fluxbox/styles" "$HOME/.fluxbox/pixmaps"
     fi
     if [ ! -r "$startup" ]; then
         ( cat << EOF
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ else
 # You can set your favourite wallpaper here if you don't want
 # to do it from your style.
 #
-# bsetbg -f ~/pictures/wallpaper.png
+# bsetbg -f $HOME/pictures/wallpaper.png
 #
 # This sets a black background
 
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ else
 # xset r rate 195 35
 #
 # Your own fonts-dir:
-# xset +fp $HOME/.font
+# xset +fp "$HOME/.fonts"
 #
 # Your favourite mouse cursor:
 # xsetroot -cursor_name right_ptr
 #
 # Change your keymap:
-# xmodmap ~/.Xmodmap
+# xmodmap "$HOME/.Xmodmap"
 
 
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ else
 
 exec @pkgbindir@/fluxbox
 # or if you want to keep a log:
-# exec @pkgbindir@/fluxbox -log ~/.fluxbox/log
+# exec @pkgbindir@/fluxbox -log "$HOME/.fluxbox/log"
 EOF
     ) > "$startup"
     fi