diff --git a/melamine/filesystems/ext23.py b/melamine/filesystems/ext23.py
index 010778b..8ee3d9f 100644
--- a/melamine/filesystems/ext23.py
+++ b/melamine/filesystems/ext23.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class EXT23Handler:
         inode = path.stat().st_ino
 
         fs = ext2_filsys()
-        if self.libext2fs.ext2fs_open(path.encode(), 0, 0, 0, ctypes.byref(fs)) == 0:
+        if self.libext2fs.ext2fs_open(bytes(path), 0, 0, 0, ctypes.byref(fs)) == 0:
             try:
                 scan = ext2_inode_scan()
                 try: