diff --git a/apps/opencs/view/render/cellwater.cpp b/apps/opencs/view/render/cellwater.cpp
index 7589f2c1fc..5ad860b435 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/view/render/cellwater.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/view/render/cellwater.cpp
@@ -176,14 +176,14 @@ namespace CSVRender
         mWaterGeometry->setStateSet(SceneUtil::createSimpleWaterStateSet(Alpha, RenderBin));
 
         // Add water texture
-        std::string textureName = "textures/water/";
-        textureName += Fallback::Map::getString("Water_SurfaceTexture");
-        textureName += "00.dds";
+        constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView prefix("textures/water");
+        VFS::Path::Normalized texturePath(prefix);
+        texturePath /= std::string(Fallback::Map::getString("Water_SurfaceTexture")) + "00.dds";
 
         Resource::ImageManager* imageManager = mData.getResourceSystem()->getImageManager();
 
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> waterTexture = new osg::Texture2D();
-        waterTexture->setImage(imageManager->getImage(textureName));
+        waterTexture->setImage(imageManager->getImage(texturePath));
         waterTexture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
         waterTexture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
index b2b576522f..1816cf8a61 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/windowmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -2229,9 +2229,10 @@ namespace MWGui
             ResourceImageSetPointerFix* imgSetPointer = resource->castType<ResourceImageSetPointerFix>(false);
             if (!imgSetPointer)
                 continue;
-            auto tex_name = imgSetPointer->getImageSet()->getIndexInfo(0, 0).texture;
 
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(tex_name);
+            const VFS::Path::Normalized path(imgSetPointer->getImageSet()->getIndexInfo(0, 0).texture);
+
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(path);
 
             if (image.valid())
             {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
index 3e8a6fd2ec..88a620efd0 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/ripplesimulation.cpp
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ namespace
         {
             std::ostringstream texname;
             texname << "textures/water/" << tex << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << i << ".dds";
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex2(
-                new osg::Texture2D(resourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(texname.str())));
+            const VFS::Path::Normalized path(texname.str());
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex2(new osg::Texture2D(resourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(path)));
             tex2->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             tex2->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             resourceSystem->getSceneManager()->applyFilterSettings(tex2);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
index c45fadc74f..483de27317 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/sky.cpp
@@ -403,8 +403,9 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::StateSet> stateset = mRainParticleSystem->getOrCreateStateSet();
 
+        constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView raindropImage("textures/tx_raindrop_01.dds");
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> raindropTex
-            = new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage("textures/tx_raindrop_01.dds"));
+            = new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage(raindropImage));
         raindropTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         raindropTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 
@@ -768,7 +769,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         {
             mClouds = weather.mCloudTexture;
 
-            std::string texture = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(mClouds, mSceneManager->getVFS());
+            const VFS::Path::Normalized texture
+                = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(mClouds, mSceneManager->getVFS());
 
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> cloudTex
                 = new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage(texture));
@@ -790,7 +792,8 @@ namespace MWRender
 
             if (!mNextClouds.empty())
             {
-                std::string texture = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(mNextClouds, mSceneManager->getVFS());
+                const VFS::Path::Normalized texture
+                    = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(mNextClouds, mSceneManager->getVFS());
 
                 osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> cloudTex
                     = new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage(texture));
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/skyutil.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/skyutil.cpp
index faa0566016..2881f51d4c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/skyutil.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/skyutil.cpp
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ namespace MWRender
             }
         }
 
-        void setTextures(const std::string& phaseTex, const std::string& circleTex)
+        void setTextures(VFS::Path::NormalizedView phaseTex, VFS::Path::NormalizedView circleTex)
         {
             mPhaseTex = new osg::Texture2D(mImageManager.getImage(phaseTex));
             mPhaseTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
@@ -766,7 +766,9 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         Resource::ImageManager& imageManager = *sceneManager.getImageManager();
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> sunTex = new osg::Texture2D(imageManager.getImage("textures/tx_sun_05.dds"));
+        constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView image("textures/tx_sun_05.dds");
+
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> sunTex = new osg::Texture2D(imageManager.getImage(image));
         sunTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         sunTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 
@@ -907,8 +909,8 @@ namespace MWRender
 
     void Sun::createSunFlash(Resource::ImageManager& imageManager)
     {
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex
-            = new osg::Texture2D(imageManager.getImage("textures/tx_sun_flash_grey_05.dds"));
+        constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView image("textures/tx_sun_flash_grey_05.dds");
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex = new osg::Texture2D(imageManager.getImage(image));
         tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 
@@ -1115,10 +1117,18 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         textureName += ".dds";
 
+        const VFS::Path::Normalized texturePath(std::move(textureName));
+
         if (mType == Moon::Type_Secunda)
-            mUpdater->setTextures(textureName, "textures/tx_mooncircle_full_s.dds");
+        {
+            constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView secunda("textures/tx_mooncircle_full_s.dds");
+            mUpdater->setTextures(texturePath, secunda);
+        }
         else
-            mUpdater->setTextures(textureName, "textures/tx_mooncircle_full_m.dds");
+        {
+            constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView masser("textures/tx_mooncircle_full_m.dds");
+            mUpdater->setTextures(texturePath, masser);
+        }
     }
 
     int RainCounter::numParticlesToCreate(double dt) const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/util.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/util.cpp
index 019484eebd..c2231c31f8 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/util.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/util.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ namespace MWRender
     {
         if (texture.empty())
             return;
-        std::string correctedTexture = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(texture, resourceSystem->getVFS());
+        const VFS::Path::Normalized correctedTexture
+            = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(texture, resourceSystem->getVFS());
         // Not sure if wrap settings should be pulled from the overridden texture?
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex
             = new osg::Texture2D(resourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(correctedTexture));
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
index 1b8b307d21..81e44248ac 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/water.cpp
@@ -589,8 +589,8 @@ namespace MWRender
         {
             std::ostringstream texname;
             texname << "textures/water/" << texture << std::setw(2) << std::setfill('0') << i << ".dds";
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex(
-                new osg::Texture2D(mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(texname.str())));
+            const VFS::Path::Normalized path(texname.str());
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex(new osg::Texture2D(mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(path)));
             tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->applyFilterSettings(tex);
@@ -703,8 +703,9 @@ namespace MWRender
         Shader::ShaderManager& shaderMgr = mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getShaderManager();
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Program> program = shaderMgr.getProgram("water", defineMap);
 
+        constexpr VFS::Path::NormalizedView waterImage("textures/omw/water_nm.png");
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> normalMap(
-            new osg::Texture2D(mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage("textures/omw/water_nm.png")));
+            new osg::Texture2D(mResourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(waterImage)));
         normalMap->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
         normalMap->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
         mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->applyFilterSettings(normalMap);
diff --git a/components/fx/technique.cpp b/components/fx/technique.cpp
index 73355de9a5..c99d30a1de 100644
--- a/components/fx/technique.cpp
+++ b/components/fx/technique.cpp
@@ -445,7 +445,8 @@ namespace fx
             else if (key == "source")
             {
                 expect<Lexer::String>();
-                auto image = mImageManager.getImage(std::string{ std::get<Lexer::String>(mToken).value }, is3D);
+                const osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image
+                    = mImageManager.getImage(VFS::Path::Normalized(std::get<Lexer::String>(mToken).value), is3D);
                 if constexpr (is1D)
                 {
                     type = Types::SamplerType::Texture_1D;
diff --git a/components/myguiplatform/myguitexture.cpp b/components/myguiplatform/myguitexture.cpp
index 26127cf39a..fe2b700049 100644
--- a/components/myguiplatform/myguitexture.cpp
+++ b/components/myguiplatform/myguitexture.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ namespace osgMyGUI
         if (!mImageManager)
             throw std::runtime_error("No imagemanager set");
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image(mImageManager->getImage(fname));
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image(mImageManager->getImage(VFS::Path::toNormalized(fname)));
         mTexture = new osg::Texture2D(image);
         mTexture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
         mTexture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
diff --git a/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp b/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
index 6ec0fe51e0..ad3ba12070 100644
--- a/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
+++ b/components/nifosg/nifloader.cpp
@@ -1022,8 +1022,8 @@ namespace NifOsg
             if (!mImageManager)
                 return nullptr;
 
-            std::string filename = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(path, mImageManager->getVFS());
-            return mImageManager->getImage(filename);
+            return mImageManager->getImage(
+                VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctTexturePath(path, mImageManager->getVFS())));
         }
 
         osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> attachTexture(const std::string& name, osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image, bool wrapS,
diff --git a/components/resource/imagemanager.cpp b/components/resource/imagemanager.cpp
index e7cc9f03e5..b7a19b4d52 100644
--- a/components/resource/imagemanager.cpp
+++ b/components/resource/imagemanager.cpp
@@ -85,11 +85,9 @@ namespace Resource
         return true;
     }
 
-    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> ImageManager::getImage(std::string_view filename, bool disableFlip)
+    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> ImageManager::getImage(VFS::Path::NormalizedView path, bool disableFlip)
     {
-        const std::string normalized = VFS::Path::normalizeFilename(filename);
-
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> obj = mCache->getRefFromObjectCache(normalized);
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Object> obj = mCache->getRefFromObjectCache(path);
         if (obj)
             return osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image>(static_cast<osg::Image*>(obj.get()));
         else
@@ -97,21 +95,21 @@ namespace Resource
             Files::IStreamPtr stream;
             try
             {
-                stream = mVFS->get(normalized);
+                stream = mVFS->get(path);
             }
             catch (std::exception& e)
             {
                 Log(Debug::Error) << "Failed to open image: " << e.what();
-                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, mWarningImage);
+                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), mWarningImage);
                 return mWarningImage;
             }
 
-            const std::string ext(Misc::getFileExtension(normalized));
+            const std::string ext(Misc::getFileExtension(path.value()));
             osgDB::ReaderWriter* reader = osgDB::Registry::instance()->getReaderWriterForExtension(ext);
             if (!reader)
             {
-                Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << filename << ": no readerwriter for '" << ext << "' found";
-                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, mWarningImage);
+                Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << path << ": no readerwriter for '" << ext << "' found";
+                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), mWarningImage);
                 return mWarningImage;
             }
 
@@ -123,8 +121,8 @@ namespace Resource
                 stream->read((char*)header, 18);
                 if (stream->gcount() != 18)
                 {
-                    Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << filename << ": couldn't read TGA header";
-                    mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, mWarningImage);
+                    Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << path << ": couldn't read TGA header";
+                    mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), mWarningImage);
                     return mWarningImage;
                 }
                 int type = header[2];
@@ -142,23 +140,22 @@ namespace Resource
                 = reader->readImage(*stream, disableFlip ? mOptionsNoFlip : mOptions);
             if (!result.success())
             {
-                Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << filename << ": " << result.message() << " code "
+                Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << path << ": " << result.message() << " code "
                                   << result.status();
-                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, mWarningImage);
+                mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), mWarningImage);
                 return mWarningImage;
             }
 
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = result.getImage();
 
-            image->setFileName(normalized);
+            image->setFileName(std::string(path.value()));
             if (!checkSupported(image))
             {
                 static bool uncompress = (getenv("OPENMW_DECOMPRESS_TEXTURES") != nullptr);
                 if (!uncompress)
                 {
-                    Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << filename
-                                      << ": no S3TC texture compression support installed";
-                    mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, mWarningImage);
+                    Log(Debug::Error) << "Error loading " << path << ": no S3TC texture compression support installed";
+                    mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), mWarningImage);
                     return mWarningImage;
                 }
                 else
@@ -189,7 +186,7 @@ namespace Resource
                 image = newImage;
             }
 
-            mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(normalized, image);
+            mCache->addEntryToObjectCache(path.value(), image);
             return image;
         }
     }
diff --git a/components/resource/imagemanager.hpp b/components/resource/imagemanager.hpp
index 2fad70d576..ead55c792a 100644
--- a/components/resource/imagemanager.hpp
+++ b/components/resource/imagemanager.hpp
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 #ifndef OPENMW_COMPONENTS_RESOURCE_IMAGEMANAGER_H
 #define OPENMW_COMPONENTS_RESOURCE_IMAGEMANAGER_H
 
-#include <map>
-#include <string>
-
 #include <osg/Image>
 #include <osg/Texture2D>
 #include <osg/ref_ptr>
 
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
+
 #include "resourcemanager.hpp"
 
 namespace osgDB
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ namespace Resource
 
         /// Create or retrieve an Image
         /// Returns the dummy image if the given image is not found.
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> getImage(std::string_view filename, bool disableFlip = false);
+        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> getImage(VFS::Path::NormalizedView path, bool disableFlip = false);
 
         osg::Image* getWarningImage();
 
diff --git a/components/resource/scenemanager.cpp b/components/resource/scenemanager.cpp
index 281a21d860..9feab669a9 100644
--- a/components/resource/scenemanager.cpp
+++ b/components/resource/scenemanager.cpp
@@ -627,7 +627,8 @@ namespace Resource
                 filePath = std::filesystem::relative(filename, osgDB::getCurrentWorkingDirectory());
             try
             {
-                return osgDB::ReaderWriter::ReadResult(mImageManager->getImage(Files::pathToUnicodeString(filePath)),
+                return osgDB::ReaderWriter::ReadResult(
+                    mImageManager->getImage(VFS::Path::toNormalized(Files::pathToUnicodeString(filePath))),
                     osgDB::ReaderWriter::ReadResult::FILE_LOADED);
             }
             catch (std::exception& e)
diff --git a/components/sceneutil/util.cpp b/components/sceneutil/util.cpp
index 2ad4c92ab5..ed891f835e 100644
--- a/components/sceneutil/util.cpp
+++ b/components/sceneutil/util.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ namespace SceneUtil
         std::vector<osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D>> textures;
         for (const std::string& name : glowTextureNames)
         {
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = resourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(name);
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image = resourceSystem->getImageManager()->getImage(VFS::Path::toNormalized(name));
             osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> tex(new osg::Texture2D(image));
             tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture2D::REPEAT);
             tex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture2D::REPEAT);
diff --git a/components/shader/shadervisitor.cpp b/components/shader/shadervisitor.cpp
index 2e4035a990..63ee6cb41f 100644
--- a/components/shader/shadervisitor.cpp
+++ b/components/shader/shadervisitor.cpp
@@ -404,17 +404,19 @@ namespace Shader
                 bool normalHeight = false;
                 std::string normalHeightMap = normalMapFileName;
                 Misc::StringUtils::replaceLast(normalHeightMap, ".", mNormalHeightMapPattern + ".");
-                if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(normalHeightMap))
+                const VFS::Path::Normalized normalHeightMapPath(normalHeightMap);
+                if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(normalHeightMapPath))
                 {
-                    image = mImageManager.getImage(normalHeightMap);
+                    image = mImageManager.getImage(normalHeightMapPath);
                     normalHeight = true;
                 }
                 else
                 {
                     Misc::StringUtils::replaceLast(normalMapFileName, ".", mNormalMapPattern + ".");
-                    if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(normalMapFileName))
+                    const VFS::Path::Normalized normalMapPath(normalMapFileName);
+                    if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(normalMapPath))
                     {
-                        image = mImageManager.getImage(normalMapFileName);
+                        image = mImageManager.getImage(normalMapPath);
                     }
                 }
                 // Avoid using the auto-detected normal map if it's already being used as a bump map.
@@ -464,9 +466,10 @@ namespace Shader
             {
                 std::string specularMapFileName = diffuseMap->getImage(0)->getFileName();
                 Misc::StringUtils::replaceLast(specularMapFileName, ".", mSpecularMapPattern + ".");
-                if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(specularMapFileName))
+                const VFS::Path::Normalized specularMapPath(specularMapFileName);
+                if (mImageManager.getVFS()->exists(specularMapPath))
                 {
-                    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image(mImageManager.getImage(specularMapFileName));
+                    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Image> image(mImageManager.getImage(specularMapPath));
                     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> specularMapTex(new osg::Texture2D(image));
                     specularMapTex->setTextureSize(image->s(), image->t());
                     specularMapTex->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, diffuseMap->getWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S));
diff --git a/components/terrain/texturemanager.cpp b/components/terrain/texturemanager.cpp
index 6b388faf69..8df880fab0 100644
--- a/components/terrain/texturemanager.cpp
+++ b/components/terrain/texturemanager.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ namespace Terrain
             return static_cast<osg::Texture2D*>(obj.get());
         else
         {
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> texture(new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage(name)));
+            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Texture2D> texture(
+                new osg::Texture2D(mSceneManager->getImageManager()->getImage(VFS::Path::toNormalized(name))));
             texture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_S, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             texture->setWrap(osg::Texture::WRAP_T, osg::Texture::REPEAT);
             mSceneManager->applyFilterSettings(texture);