diff --git a/beets/importer/tasks.py b/beets/importer/tasks.py
index 14fea4345..d7157c568 100644
--- a/beets/importer/tasks.py
+++ b/beets/importer/tasks.py
@@ -1185,7 +1185,7 @@ class ImportTaskFactory:
         # assume, for example, the only diff between 'asdf.mp3' and 'asdf' is format
         new_path = path.with_suffix("." + detected_format)
         if not new_path.exists():
-            util.move(path, new_path)
+            util.move(bytes(path), bytes(new_path))
         else:
             log.info("Import file with matching format to original target")
         return new_path