diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
index 06458aaf..453efea4 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/config.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Config:
         if addr and addr != "." and "/" not in addr:
             res = self.mailboxes_dir.joinpath(addr).resolve()
             if res.is_relative_to(self.mailboxes_dir):
-                return str(res)
+                return res
         raise ValueError(f"invalid address {addr!r}")
 
 
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/doveauth.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/doveauth.py
index d1bd938d..f56decc5 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/doveauth.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/doveauth.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def is_allowed_to_create(config: Config, user, cleartext_password) -> bool:
 def get_user_data(db, config: Config, user):
     if user == f"echo@{config.mail_domain}":
         return dict(
-            home=config.get_user_maildir(user),
+            home=str(config.get_user_maildir(user)),
             uid="vmail",
             gid="vmail",
         )
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def get_user_data(db, config: Config, user):
     with db.read_connection() as conn:
         result = conn.get_user(user)
     if result:
-        result["home"] = config.get_user_maildir(user)
+        result["home"] = str(config.get_user_maildir(user))
         result["uid"] = "vmail"
         result["gid"] = "vmail"
     return result
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def lookup_passdb(db, config: Config, user, cleartext_password, last_login=None)
             return None
 
         return dict(
-            home=config.get_user_maildir(user),
+            home=str(config.get_user_maildir(user)),
             uid="vmail",
             gid="vmail",
             password=encrypt_password(password),
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def lookup_passdb(db, config: Config, user, cleartext_password, last_login=None)
                 "UPDATE users SET last_login=? WHERE addr=?", (last_login, user)
             )
 
-            userdata["home"] = config.get_user_maildir(user)
+            userdata["home"] = str(config.get_user_maildir(user))
             userdata["uid"] = "vmail"
             userdata["gid"] = "vmail"
             return userdata
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def lookup_passdb(db, config: Config, user, cleartext_password, last_login=None)
         conn.execute(q, (user, encrypted_password, last_login))
         print(f"Created address: {user}", file=sys.stderr)
         return dict(
-            home=config.get_user_maildir(user),
+            home=str(config.get_user_maildir(user)),
             uid="vmail",
             gid="vmail",
             password=encrypted_password,
diff --git a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_delete_inactive_users.py b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_delete_inactive_users.py
index 418894e0..0cdc163f 100644
--- a/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_delete_inactive_users.py
+++ b/chatmaild/src/chatmaild/tests/test_delete_inactive_users.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import time
-from pathlib import Path
 
 from chatmaild.delete_inactive_users import delete_inactive_users
 from chatmaild.doveauth import lookup_passdb
@@ -9,12 +8,9 @@ def test_remove_stale_users(db, example_config):
     new = time.time()
     old = new - (example_config.delete_inactive_users_after * 86400) - 1
 
-    def get_user_path(addr):
-        return Path(example_config.get_user_maildir(addr))
-
     def create_user(addr, last_login):
         lookup_passdb(db, example_config, addr, "q9mr3faue", last_login=last_login)
-        md = get_user_path(addr)
+        md = example_config.get_user_maildir(addr)
         md.mkdir(parents=True)
         md.joinpath("cur").mkdir()
         md.joinpath("cur", "something").mkdir()
@@ -37,7 +33,7 @@ def test_remove_stale_users(db, example_config):
     # check pre and post-conditions for delete_inactive_users()
 
     for addr in to_remove:
-        assert get_user_path(addr).exists()
+        assert example_config.get_user_maildir(addr).exists()
 
     delete_inactive_users(db, example_config)
 
@@ -45,11 +41,11 @@ def test_remove_stale_users(db, example_config):
         assert not p.name.startswith("old")
 
     for addr in to_remove:
-        assert not get_user_path(addr).exists()
+        assert not example_config.get_user_maildir(addr).exists()
         with db.read_connection() as conn:
             assert not conn.get_user(addr)
 
     for addr in remain:
-        assert get_user_path(addr).exists()
+        assert example_config.get_user_maildir(addr).exists()
         with db.read_connection() as conn:
             assert conn.get_user(addr)