diff --git a/collects/help/private/gui.ss b/collects/help/private/gui.ss
index 3261fb0e06..6b09118909 100644
--- a/collects/help/private/gui.ss
+++ b/collects/help/private/gui.ss
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@
                          (lambda (b e)
                            (let ([f (get-file)])
                              (when f
-                               (send t set-value (string-append "file:" f))
+                               (send t set-value (string-append "file:" (path->string f)))
                                (update-ok))))))
         (define spacer (make-object vertical-pane% p))
         (define result #f)