diff --git a/pywal/image.py b/pywal/image.py
index e01c3d1..bb495b1 100644
--- a/pywal/image.py
+++ b/pywal/image.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def get_random_image(img_dir):
     current_wall = os.path.basename(current_wall)
 
     file_types = (".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".jpe", ".gif")
-    images = [img for img in os.scandir(str(img_dir))
+    images = [img for img in os.scandir(img_dir)
               if img.name.endswith(file_types) and img.name != current_wall]
 
     if not images:
diff --git a/pywal/util.py b/pywal/util.py
index 832ac5f..55be6c2 100644
--- a/pywal/util.py
+++ b/pywal/util.py
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ class Color:
 
 def read_file(input_file):
     """Read data from a file and trim newlines."""
-    with open(str(input_file), "r") as file:
+    with open(input_file, "r") as file:
         data = file.read().splitlines()
     return data
 
 
 def read_file_json(input_file):
     """Read data from a json file."""
-    with open(str(input_file), "r") as json_file:
+    with open(input_file, "r") as json_file:
         data = json.load(json_file)
 
     return data
@@ -51,17 +51,17 @@ def read_file_json(input_file):
 def read_file_raw(input_file):
     """Read data from a file as is, don't strip
        newlines or other special characters.."""
-    with open(str(input_file), "r") as file:
+    with open(input_file, "r") as file:
         data = file.readlines()
     return data
 
 
 def save_file(data, export_file):
     """Write data to a file."""
-    create_dir(os.path.dirname(str(export_file)))
+    create_dir(os.path.dirname(export_file))
 
     try:
-        with open(str(export_file), "w") as file:
+        with open(export_file, "w") as file:
             file.write(data)
     except PermissionError:
         print("warning: Couldn't write to %s." % export_file)
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@ def save_file(data, export_file):
 
 def save_file_json(data, export_file):
     """Write data to a json file."""
-    create_dir(os.path.dirname(str(export_file)))
+    create_dir(os.path.dirname(export_file))
 
-    with open(str(export_file), "w") as file:
+    with open(export_file, "w") as file:
         json.dump(data, file, indent=4)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index aae0356..79b6b96 100755
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 """Test util functions."""
 import unittest
 import os
-import pathlib
 
 from pywal import util
 
@@ -35,16 +34,16 @@ class TestUtil(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_save_file(self):
         """> Save colors to a file."""
-        tmp_file = pathlib.Path("/tmp/test_file")
+        tmp_file = "/tmp/test_file"
         util.save_file("Hello, world", tmp_file)
-        result = tmp_file.is_file()
+        result = os.path.isfile(tmp_file)
         self.assertTrue(result)
 
     def test_save_file_json(self):
         """> Save colors to a file."""
-        tmp_file = pathlib.Path("/tmp/test_file.json")
+        tmp_file = "/tmp/test_file.json"
         util.save_file_json(COLORS, tmp_file)
-        result = tmp_file.is_file()
+        result = os.path.isfile(tmp_file)
         self.assertTrue(result)
 
     def test_create_dir(self):