diff --git a/melamine/shred.py b/melamine/shred.py
index 0e06b99..370f0d3 100644
--- a/melamine/shred.py
+++ b/melamine/shred.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ async def main(job: argparse.Namespace) -> bool:
         # checking for . and .. should not be neccessary w/ rglob
         tasks = []
         async for item in mount_point.rglob("*"):
-            if any(str(item).startswith(path) for path in job.ignoredir):
+            if any(str(item).startswith(str(path)) for path in job.ignoredir):
                 continue
             tasks.append(check_inode_and_unlink(item, inodes))
         done, _ = await asyncio.wait(tasks)