diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 6ab5ab64fa..904b96c463 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@
 #include "rotationflags.hpp"
 
 #include <deque>
-#include <map>
 #include <set>
 #include <span>
 #include <string_view>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <components/misc/rng.hpp>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwworld/doorstate.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/globalvariablename.hpp"
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ namespace MWBase
         /// Spawn a blood effect for \a ptr at \a worldPosition
         virtual void spawnBloodEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const osg::Vec3f& worldPosition) = 0;
 
-        virtual void spawnEffect(const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride,
+        virtual void spawnEffect(VFS::Path::NormalizedView model, const std::string& textureOverride,
             const osg::Vec3f& worldPos, float scale = 1.f, bool isMagicVFX = true)
             = 0;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/animationbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/animationbindings.cpp
index 95294f46cb..b74a3e51c3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/animationbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/animationbindings.cpp
@@ -319,14 +319,14 @@ namespace MWLua
                       std::string texture = options->get_or<std::string>("particleTextureOverride", "");
                       float scale = options->get_or("scale", 1.f);
                       context.mLuaManager->addAction(
-                          [world, model = std::string(model), texture = std::move(texture), worldPos, scale,
+                          [world, model = VFS::Path::Normalized(model), texture = std::move(texture), worldPos, scale,
                               magicVfx]() { world->spawnEffect(model, texture, worldPos, scale, magicVfx); },
                           "openmw.vfx.spawn");
                   }
                   else
                   {
-                      context.mLuaManager->addAction(
-                          [world, model = std::string(model), worldPos]() { world->spawnEffect(model, "", worldPos); },
+                      context.mLuaManager->addAction([world, model = VFS::Path::Normalized(model),
+                                                         worldPos]() { world->spawnEffect(model, "", worldPos); },
                           "openmw.vfx.spawn");
                   }
               };
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index 3f2a9b46bb..401ba0ae86 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ namespace
                 const ESM::Static* const fx
                     = world->getStore().get<ESM::Static>().search(ESM::RefId::stringRefId("VFX_Soul_Trap"));
                 if (fx != nullptr)
-                    world->spawnEffect(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(fx->mModel), "",
+                    world->spawnEffect(VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(fx->mModel)), "",
                         creature.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
 
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager()->playSound3D(
@@ -1806,7 +1806,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 ESM::RefId::stringRefId("VFX_Summon_End"));
             if (fx)
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->spawnEffect(
-                    Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(fx->mModel), "", ptr.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
+                    VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(fx->mModel)), "",
+                    ptr.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
 
             // Remove the summoned creature's summoned creatures as well
             MWMechanics::CreatureStats& stats = ptr.getClass().getCreatureStats(ptr);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index d22b6c4837..1d847a4129 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -72,12 +72,13 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             {
                 if (effectInfo.mData.mRange == ESM::RT_Target)
                     world->spawnEffect(
-                        Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(areaStatic->mModel), texture, mHitPosition, 1.0f);
+                        VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(areaStatic->mModel)), texture,
+                        mHitPosition, 1.0f);
                 continue;
             }
             else
-                world->spawnEffect(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(areaStatic->mModel), texture, mHitPosition,
-                    static_cast<float>(effectInfo.mData.mArea * 2));
+                world->spawnEffect(VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(areaStatic->mModel)),
+                    texture, mHitPosition, static_cast<float>(effectInfo.mData.mArea * 2));
 
             // Play explosion sound (make sure to use NoTrack, since we will delete the projectile now)
             {
@@ -539,7 +540,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 }
                 scale = std::max(scale, 1.f);
                 MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->spawnEffect(
-                    Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(castStatic->mModel), effect->mParticle, pos, scale);
+                    VFS::Path::toNormalized(Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(castStatic->mModel)),
+                    effect->mParticle, pos, scale);
             }
 
             if (animation && !mCaster.getClass().isActor())
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index b52d59d5e7..07da51b4f3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -3644,10 +3644,10 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mRendering->spawnEffect(model, texture, worldPosition, 1.0f, false);
     }
 
-    void World::spawnEffect(const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos,
-        float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
+    void World::spawnEffect(VFS::Path::NormalizedView model, const std::string& textureOverride,
+        const osg::Vec3f& worldPos, float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
     {
-        mRendering->spawnEffect(VFS::Path::toNormalized(model), textureOverride, worldPos, scale, isMagicVFX);
+        mRendering->spawnEffect(model, textureOverride, worldPos, scale, isMagicVFX);
     }
 
     struct ResetActorsVisitor
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index f4c22e94d3..9e00118533 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <components/esm3/readerscache.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/rng.hpp>
 #include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
+#include <components/vfs/pathutil.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
 
@@ -603,8 +604,8 @@ namespace MWWorld
         /// Spawn a blood effect for \a ptr at \a worldPosition
         void spawnBloodEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const osg::Vec3f& worldPosition) override;
 
-        void spawnEffect(const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos,
-            float scale = 1.f, bool isMagicVFX = true) override;
+        void spawnEffect(VFS::Path::NormalizedView model, const std::string& textureOverride,
+            const osg::Vec3f& worldPos, float scale = 1.f, bool isMagicVFX = true) override;
 
         /// @see MWWorld::WeatherManager::isInStorm
         bool isInStorm() const override;