diff --git a/examples/relativity/relativity.py b/examples/relativity/relativity.py
index 726b49b4..98ef524e 100644
--- a/examples/relativity/relativity.py
+++ b/examples/relativity/relativity.py
@@ -159,21 +159,21 @@ class RelativityGUI(QtGui.QWidget):
         self.setAnimation(self.params['Animate'])
         
     def save(self):
-        filename = str(pg.QtGui.QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(self, "Save State..", "untitled.cfg", "Config Files (*.cfg)"))
+        filename = pg.QtGui.QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(self, "Save State..", "untitled.cfg", "Config Files (*.cfg)")
         if isinstance(filename, tuple):
             filename = filename[0]  # Qt4/5 API difference
         if filename == '':
             return
         state = self.params.saveState()
-        pg.configfile.writeConfigFile(state, filename) 
+        pg.configfile.writeConfigFile(state, str(filename)) 
         
     def load(self):
-        filename = str(pg.QtGui.QFileDialog.getOpenFileName(self, "Save State..", "", "Config Files (*.cfg)"))
+        filename = pg.QtGui.QFileDialog.getOpenFileName(self, "Save State..", "", "Config Files (*.cfg)")
         if isinstance(filename, tuple):
             filename = filename[0]  # Qt4/5 API difference
         if filename == '':
             return
-        state = pg.configfile.readConfigFile(filename) 
+        state = pg.configfile.readConfigFile(str(filename)) 
         self.loadState(state)
         
     def loadPreset(self, param, preset):
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py b/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
index ca3ac416..2b43b940 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/imageview/ImageView.py
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ class ImageView(QtGui.QWidget):
             fileName = fileName[0]  # Qt4/5 API difference
         if fileName == '':
             return
-        self.export(fileName)
+        self.export(str(fileName))
         
     def buildMenu(self):
         self.menu = QtGui.QMenu()
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/widgets/TableWidget.py b/pyqtgraph/widgets/TableWidget.py
index 66fdea8e..90b56139 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/widgets/TableWidget.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/widgets/TableWidget.py
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ class TableWidget(QtGui.QTableWidget):
             fileName = fileName[0]  # Qt4/5 API difference
         if fileName == '':
             return
-        open(fileName, 'w').write(data)
+        open(str(fileName), 'w').write(data)
 
     def contextMenuEvent(self, ev):
         self.contextMenu.popup(ev.globalPos())