diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.cpp
index 35ff81a9ca..df712b43b0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.cpp
@@ -88,10 +88,9 @@ namespace MWRender
     }
 
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> ActorAnimation::attach(
-        const std::string& model, std::string_view bonename, std::string_view bonefilter, bool isLight)
+        VFS::Path::NormalizedView model, std::string_view bonename, std::string_view bonefilter, bool isLight)
     {
-        osg::ref_ptr<const osg::Node> templateNode
-            = mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getTemplate(VFS::Path::toNormalized(model));
+        osg::ref_ptr<const osg::Node> templateNode = mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getTemplate(model);
 
         const NodeMap& nodeMap = getNodeMap();
         auto found = nodeMap.find(bonename);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.hpp
index b6586d4eab..5a28c41b6c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/actoranimation.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 #include <osg/ref_ptr>
 
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
+
 #include "../mwworld/containerstore.hpp"
 
 #include "animation.hpp"
@@ -59,7 +61,7 @@ namespace MWRender
             return attachMesh(model, bonename, false, &stubColor);
         }
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> attach(
-            const std::string& model, std::string_view bonename, std::string_view bonefilter, bool isLight);
+            VFS::Path::NormalizedView model, std::string_view bonename, std::string_view bonefilter, bool isLight);
 
         PartHolderPtr mScabbard;
         PartHolderPtr mHolsteredShield;
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/creatureanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/creatureanimation.cpp
index b6cc823d28..f84e58e4bc 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/creatureanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/creatureanimation.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ namespace MWRender
         MWWorld::ConstPtr item = *it;
 
         std::string_view bonename;
-        std::string itemModel = item.getClass().getCorrectedModel(item);
+        VFS::Path::Normalized itemModel = item.getClass().getCorrectedModel(item);
         if (slot == MWWorld::InventoryStore::Slot_CarriedRight)
         {
             if (item.getType() == ESM::Weapon::sRecordId)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
index 08dfcb667c..c8fc36e18a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/npcanimation.cpp
@@ -681,11 +681,11 @@ namespace MWRender
     PartHolderPtr NpcAnimation::insertBoundedPart(const std::string& model, std::string_view bonename,
         std::string_view bonefilter, bool enchantedGlow, osg::Vec4f* glowColor, bool isLight)
     {
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> attached = attach(model, bonename, bonefilter, isLight);
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> attached = attach(VFS::Path::toNormalized(model), bonename, bonefilter, isLight);
         if (enchantedGlow)
             mGlowUpdater = SceneUtil::addEnchantedGlow(attached, mResourceSystem, *glowColor);
 
-        return std::make_unique<PartHolder>(attached);
+        return std::make_unique<PartHolder>(std::move(attached));
     }
 
     osg::Vec3f NpcAnimation::runAnimation(float timepassed)