diff --git a/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.h b/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.h
--- a/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.h
+++ b/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.h
@@ -22,15 +22,14 @@
 #define FDRECEIVER_H
 
 #include <QObject>
-#include <QString>
 
 class QSocketNotifier;
 class FdReceiver : public QObject
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    FdReceiver(const QString &path, QObject *parent = nullptr);
+    FdReceiver(const std::string &path, QObject *parent = nullptr);
     ~FdReceiver();
 
     bool isListening() const;
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@
     Q_SLOT void receiveFileDescriptor();
 
     QSocketNotifier *m_readNotifier;
-    QString m_path;
+    std::string m_path;
     int m_socketDes;
     int m_fileDes;
 };
diff --git a/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.cpp b/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.cpp
--- a/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.cpp
+++ b/src/ioslaves/file/fdreceiver.cpp
@@ -24,16 +24,16 @@
 #include "sharefd_p.h"
 #include "fdreceiver.h"
 
-FdReceiver::FdReceiver(const QString &path, QObject *parent)
+FdReceiver::FdReceiver(const std::string &path, QObject *parent)
           : QObject(parent)
           , m_readNotifier(nullptr)
           , m_path(path)
           , m_socketDes(-1)
           , m_fileDes(-1)
 {
-    const SocketAddress addr(m_path.toLocal8Bit().toStdString());
+    const SocketAddress addr(m_path);
     if (!addr.address()) {
-        std::cerr << "Invalid socket address:" << qPrintable(m_path) << std::endl;
+        std::cerr << "Invalid socket address:" << m_path << std::endl;
         return;
     }
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
         return;
     }
 
-    ::unlink(m_path.toLocal8Bit().constData());
+    ::unlink(m_path.c_str());
     if (bind(m_socketDes, addr.address(), addr.length()) != 0 || listen(m_socketDes, 5) != 0) {
         std::cerr << "bind/listen error:" << strerror(errno) << std::endl;
         ::close(m_socketDes);
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     if (m_socketDes >= 0) {
         ::close(m_socketDes);
     }
-    ::unlink(m_path.toLocal8Bit().constData());
+    ::unlink(m_path.c_str());
 }
 
 bool FdReceiver::isListening() const
diff --git a/src/ioslaves/file/file_unix.cpp b/src/ioslaves/file/file_unix.cpp
--- a/src/ioslaves/file/file_unix.cpp
+++ b/src/ioslaves/file/file_unix.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@
 PrivilegeOperationReturnValue FileProtocol::tryOpen(QFile &f, const QByteArray &path, int flags, int mode, int errcode)
 {
     const QString sockPath = socketPath();
-    FdReceiver fdRecv(sockPath);
+    FdReceiver fdRecv(QFile::encodeName(sockPath).toStdString());
     if (!fdRecv.isListening()) {
         return PrivilegeOperationReturnValue::failure(errcode);
     }