diff --git a/hexrd/config/findorientations.py b/hexrd/config/findorientations.py
index cd6b1effc..6184f8539 100644
--- a/hexrd/config/findorientations.py
+++ b/hexrd/config/findorientations.py
@@ -290,7 +290,9 @@ def file(self):
             'find_orientations:orientation_maps:file',
             default=None
         )
-        if temp is not None:
+        if temp is None:
+            return None
+        else:
             ptemp = Path(temp)
             if ptemp.is_absolute():
                 mapf = ptemp
diff --git a/tests/config/test_find_orientations.py b/tests/config/test_find_orientations.py
index 8ea3abc6b..c51b245f5 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_find_orientations.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_find_orientations.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 """
 analysis_name: analysis
 working_dir: %(tempdir)s
+material:
+  definitions: %(existing_file)s
+  active: actmat
 ---
 find_orientations:
   orientation_maps:
@@ -326,11 +329,11 @@ def test_file(self):
             self.cfgs[0].find_orientations.orientation_maps.file is None
         )
         self.assertEqual(
-            self.cfgs[1].find_orientations.orientation_maps.file,
+            str(self.cfgs[1].find_orientations.orientation_maps.file),
             os.path.join(test_data['tempdir'], test_data['nonexistent_file'])
             )
         self.assertEqual(
-            self.cfgs[2].find_orientations.orientation_maps.file,
+            str(self.cfgs[2].find_orientations.orientation_maps.file),
             test_data['existing_file']
             )
 
diff --git a/tests/config/test_root.py b/tests/config/test_root.py
index 889a23c60..db829dde1 100644
--- a/tests/config/test_root.py
+++ b/tests/config/test_root.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def get_reference_data(cls):
 
     def test_analysis_dir(self):
         self.assertEqual(
-            self.cfgs[0].analysis_dir,
+            str(self.cfgs[0].analysis_dir),
             os.path.join(os.getcwd(), 'analysis')
             )
 
@@ -56,11 +56,15 @@ def test_section_inheritance(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.cfgs[2].analysis_name, 'analysis_2')
 
     def test_working_dir(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.cfgs[0].working_dir, os.getcwd())
-        self.assertEqual(self.cfgs[1].working_dir, test_data['existing_path'])
+        self.assertEqual(str(self.cfgs[0].working_dir), os.getcwd())
+        self.assertEqual(
+            str(self.cfgs[1].working_dir), test_data['existing_path']
+        )
         self.assertRaises(IOError, getattr, self.cfgs[2], 'working_dir')
         self.cfgs[7].working_dir = test_data['existing_path']
-        self.assertEqual(self.cfgs[7].working_dir, test_data['existing_path'])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            str(self.cfgs[7].working_dir), test_data['existing_path']
+        )
         self.assertRaises(
             IOError, setattr, self.cfgs[7], 'working_dir',
             test_data['nonexistent_path']