diff --git a/voussoirkit/configlayers.py b/voussoirkit/configlayers.py
index 678f49a..e373f45 100644
--- a/voussoirkit/configlayers.py
+++ b/voussoirkit/configlayers.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def load_file(filepath, defaults):
     needs_rewrite = False
 
     if user_config_exists:
-        with open(path.absolute_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as handle:
+        with path.open('r', encoding='utf-8') as handle:
             user_config = json.load(handle)
         (config, needs_rewrite) = layer_json(config, user_config)
     else:
diff --git a/voussoirkit/quickid.py b/voussoirkit/quickid.py
index 5ad5049..1cf2e74 100644
--- a/voussoirkit/quickid.py
+++ b/voussoirkit/quickid.py
@@ -36,11 +36,13 @@ def equal_file(filename1, filename2, *args, **kwargs):
     '''
     Given two files, return True if they have the same quickid hash.
     '''
-    filename1 = pathclass.Path(filename1).absolute_path
-    filename2 = pathclass.Path(filename2).absolute_path
-    if os.path.getsize(filename1) != os.path.getsize(filename2):
+    file1 = pathclass.Path(filename1)
+    file2 = pathclass.Path(filename2)
+    file1.assert_is_file()
+    file2.assert_is_file()
+    if file1.size != file2.size:
         return False
-    with open(filename1, 'rb') as handle1, open(filename2, 'rb') as handle2:
+    with file1.open('rb') as handle1, file2.open('rb') as handle2:
         return equal_handle(handle1, handle2, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def matches_handle(handle, other_id):
@@ -65,8 +67,8 @@ def matches_file(filename, other_id):
     Given a file and a quickid hash, return True if the file matches
     that hash.
     '''
-    filename = pathclass.Path(filename).absolute_path
-    with open(filename, 'rb') as handle:
+    file = pathclass.Path(filename)
+    with file.open('rb') as handle:
         return matches_handle(handle, other_id)
 
 def quickid_handle(handle, hashtype='md5', chunk_size=CHUNK_SIZE):
@@ -96,8 +98,9 @@ def quickid_file(filename, *args, **kwargs):
     '''
     Return the quickid hash for this file.
     '''
-    filename = pathclass.Path(filename).absolute_path
-    with open(filename, 'rb') as handle:
+    file = pathclass.Path(filename)
+    file.assert_is_file()
+    with file.open('rb') as handle:
         return quickid_handle(handle, *args, **kwargs)
 
 def main(argv):
diff --git a/voussoirkit/spinal.py b/voussoirkit/spinal.py
index 24f6557..0c88b2f 100644
--- a/voussoirkit/spinal.py
+++ b/voussoirkit/spinal.py
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ def copy_file(
 
     def handlehelper(path, mode):
         try:
-            handle = open(path.absolute_path, mode)
+            handle = path.open(mode)
             return handle
         except PermissionError as exception:
             if callback_permission_denied is not None:
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ def hash_file(
     checked_bytes = 0
     file_size = os.path.getsize(path.absolute_path)
 
-    handle = open(path.absolute_path, 'rb')
+    handle = path.open('rb')
     with handle:
         while True:
             chunk = handle.read(chunk_size)