diff --git a/refresh.template.py b/refresh.template.py
index 0ce5680..359c9bf 100644
--- a/refresh.template.py
+++ b/refresh.template.py
@@ -1281,8 +1281,7 @@ def _ensure_external_workspaces_link_exists():
         # Normalize the path for matching
         # First, workaround a gross case where Windows readlink returns extended path, starting with \\?\, causing the match to fail
         if is_windows:
-            current_dest = current_dest.removeprefix('\\\\?\\')
-        current_dest = pathlib.Path(current_dest)
+            current_dest = pathlib.Path(str(current_dest).removeprefix('\\\\?\\'))
 
         if dest != current_dest:
             log_warning(">>> //external links to the wrong place. Automatically deleting and relinking...")