diff --git a/beetsplug/replaygain.py b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
index 4cc5f435c..8e11ee370 100644
--- a/beetsplug/replaygain.py
+++ b/beetsplug/replaygain.py
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ class AudioToolsBackend(Backend):
         file format is not supported
         """
         try:
-            audiofile = self._mod_audiotools.open(item.path)
+            audiofile = self._mod_audiotools.open(py3_path(syspath(item.path)))
         except IOError:
             raise ReplayGainError(
                 u"File {} was not found".format(item.path)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index baef71508..06c662be6 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ Fixes:
   fixing crashes in MPD clients like mpDris2 on seek.
   The ``playlistid`` command now works properly in its zero-argument form.
   :bug:`3214`
+* :doc:`/plugins/replaygain`: Fix a Python 3 incompatibility in the Python
+  Audio Tools backend.
+  :bug:`3305`
 
 For plugin developers: