diff --git a/lib/libimhex/include/hex/helpers/fs.hpp b/lib/libimhex/include/hex/helpers/fs.hpp
index a0cd31a03..71d2b9a0b 100644
--- a/lib/libimhex/include/hex/helpers/fs.hpp
+++ b/lib/libimhex/include/hex/helpers/fs.hpp
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ EXPORT_MODULE namespace hex::fs {
     void setFileBrowserErrorCallback(const std::function<void(const std::string&)> &callback);
     bool openFileBrowser(DialogMode mode, const std::vector<ItemFilter> &validExtensions, const std::function<void(std::fs::path)> &callback, const std::string &defaultPath = {}, bool multiple = false);
 
-    void openFileExternal(const std::fs::path &filePath);
-    void openFolderExternal(const std::fs::path &dirPath);
-    void openFolderWithSelectionExternal(const std::fs::path &selectedFilePath);
+    void openFileExternal(std::fs::path filePath);
+    void openFolderExternal(std::fs::path dirPath);
+    void openFolderWithSelectionExternal(std::fs::path selectedFilePath);
 
 
     bool isPathWritable(const std::fs::path &path);
diff --git a/lib/libimhex/source/helpers/fs.cpp b/lib/libimhex/source/helpers/fs.cpp
index da43f2ee8..b988f6c65 100644
--- a/lib/libimhex/source/helpers/fs.cpp
+++ b/lib/libimhex/source/helpers/fs.cpp
@@ -44,14 +44,16 @@ namespace hex::fs {
     }
 
     // With help from https://github.com/owncloud/client/blob/cba22aa34b3677406e0499aadd126ce1d94637a2/src/gui/openfilemanager.cpp
-    void openFileExternal(const std::fs::path &filePath) {
+    void openFileExternal(std::fs::path filePath) {
+        filePath.make_preferred();
+
         // Make sure the file exists before trying to open it
         if (!wolv::io::fs::exists(filePath)) {
             return;
         }
 
         #if defined(OS_WINDOWS)
-        std::ignore = ShellExecuteW(nullptr, L"open", filePath.c_str(), nullptr, nullptr, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
+            std::ignore = ShellExecuteW(nullptr, L"open", filePath.c_str(), nullptr, nullptr, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
         #elif defined(OS_MACOS)
             std::ignore = system(
                 hex::format("open {}", wolv::util::toUTF8String(filePath)).c_str()
@@ -61,7 +63,9 @@ namespace hex::fs {
         #endif
     }
 
-    void openFolderExternal(const std::fs::path &dirPath) {
+    void openFolderExternal(std::fs::path dirPath) {
+        dirPath.make_preferred();
+
         // Make sure the folder exists before trying to open it
         if (!wolv::io::fs::exists(dirPath)) {
             return;
@@ -79,7 +83,9 @@ namespace hex::fs {
         #endif
     }
 
-    void openFolderWithSelectionExternal(const std::fs::path &selectedFilePath) {
+    void openFolderWithSelectionExternal(std::fs::path selectedFilePath) {
+        selectedFilePath.make_preferred();
+
         // Make sure the file exists before trying to open it
         if (!wolv::io::fs::exists(selectedFilePath)) {
             return;