Police caught a man with a crop of 30 cannabis plants, after calling at his home looking for his brother, a court heard.
Adam Dixon (36) pleaded guilty to producing the class B drug in December.
John Hallissey, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "The police knocked at his door and assumed, by the nervous look on the defendant's face, that his brother was there. They asked to be let in to search for his brother."
The defendant let them into the property in Gilmorton Close, Aylestone, Leicester.
Mr Hallissey said: "In one of the bedrooms there was a tent erected, lined with silver foil and containing fans and lights, as well as 30 cannabis plants.
"He said he was growing them to smoke them. There's no evidence to suggest anything other than personal use."
Police had been trying to speak to the defendant's brother about an unrelated matter.
Unemployed Dixon, who represented himself in court, told Judge Sylvia De Bertodano he had an on-off cannabis habit for some time and was cultivating the cannabis to save money.
He said: "I didn't want to commit crime to pay for it, so I thought I'd grow my own."
Dixon was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to attend a 20-day education, training and employment programme.
Sentencing, Judge Bertodano said: "If you come back with a second offence of this nature, even for your own use, it may well be a prison sentence."
Dixon was also ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.
All defendants dealt with in court for offences committed since last October are now also liable for automatic victim surcharge payments.
