diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py b/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
index 2da485fd4..279f2fe90 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/direct_imap.py
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ class ImapConn:
                 typ, data = c.fetch(num, '(UID FLAGS)')
                 info = data[0]
 
-                path = pathlib.Path(dir).joinpath("IMAP-MESSAGES", acinfo, imapfolder)
+                path = pathlib.Path(dir.strpath).joinpath("IMAP-MESSAGES", acinfo, imapfolder)
                 path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-                file = path.joinpath(str(info).replace("b'", "").replace("'", "").replace("\\", ""))
-                file.write_bytes(body)
-                log("Message", info, "saved as", file)
+                fn = path.joinpath(str(info).replace("b'", "").replace("'", "").replace("\\", ""))
+                fn.write_bytes(body)
+                log("Message", info, "saved as", fn)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index fadedc502..77b0e996b 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -1707,6 +1707,7 @@ class TestGroupStressTests:
         ac1.shutdown()
         ac2.shutdown()
         ac3.shutdown()
+        assert 0
 
 
 class TestOnlineConfigureFails: