diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
index 80588e97a0c6..2d2345cdfc0e 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/__init__.py
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ def impl(args, regex, min_ver=None):
                 for name in ["convert.exe", "magick.exe"]:
                     candidate = Path(binpath, name)
                     if candidate.exists():
-                        path = candidate
+                        path = str(candidate)
                         break
         else:
             path = "convert"