Index: wp-includes/theme.php
===================================================================
--- wp-includes/theme.php	(revision 16497)
+++ wp-includes/theme.php	(working copy)
@@ -912,8 +912,12 @@
  * @return string
  */
 function get_home_template() {
+	$template = get_post_meta( get_queried_object_id(), '_wp_page_template', true);
 	$templates = array( 'home.php', 'index.php' );
 
+	if ( ! empty( $template ) )
+		array_unshift( $templates, $template );
+
 	return get_query_template( 'home', $templates );
 }