diff --git a/libsndio/aucat.c b/libsndio/aucat.c
index a56d5e6..6dd88c4 100644
--- a/libsndio/aucat.c
+++ b/libsndio/aucat.c
@@ -245,21 +245,17 @@ static int
 aucat_mkcookie(unsigned char *cookie)
 {
 	struct stat sb;
-	char buf[PATH_MAX], tmp[PATH_MAX], *path;
+	char *home, path[PATH_MAX], tmp[PATH_MAX];
 	ssize_t len;
 	int fd;
 
 	/*
 	 * try to load the cookie
 	 */
-	path = issetugid() ? NULL : getenv("AUCAT_COOKIE");
-	if (path == NULL) {
-		path = issetugid() ? NULL : getenv("HOME");
-		if (path == NULL)
-			goto bad_gen;
-		snprintf(buf, PATH_MAX, "%s/.aucat_cookie", path);
-		path = buf;
-	}
+	home = issetugid() ? NULL : getenv("HOME");
+	if (home == NULL)
+		goto bad_gen;
+	snprintf(path, PATH_MAX, "%s/.aucat_cookie", home);
 	fd = open(path, O_RDONLY);
 	if (fd < 0) {
 		if (errno != ENOENT)
@@ -301,7 +297,7 @@ bad_gen:
 	/*
 	 * try to save the cookie
 	 */
-	if (path == NULL)
+	if (home == NULL)
 		return 1;
 	if (strlcpy(tmp, path, PATH_MAX) >= PATH_MAX ||
 	    strlcat(tmp, ".XXXXXXXX", PATH_MAX) >= PATH_MAX) {
diff --git a/libsndio/sndio.7 b/libsndio/sndio.7
index 654c820..e5cb53c 100644
--- a/libsndio/sndio.7
+++ b/libsndio/sndio.7
@@ -198,10 +198,6 @@ If a session needs to be shared between multiple users, they
 can connect to the server using the same cookie.
 .Sh ENVIRONMENT
 .Bl -tag -width "AUDIODEVICEXXX" -compact
-.It Ev AUCAT_COOKIE
-Path to file containing the session cookie to be used
-when connecting to
-.Xr sndiod 1 .
 .It Ev AUDIODEVICE
 Audio device to use if the application provides
 no device chooser.