diff --git a/hermes_cli/backup.py b/hermes_cli/backup.py
index 0808f9ff2b..af5b8e8259 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/backup.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/backup.py
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ def _query_ro_sqlite(path: Path, fn):
     """Run ``fn(conn)`` on a read-only connection to *path*; return ``(value, None)`` or ``(None, exc)``."""
     conn = None
     try:
-        conn = sqlite3.connect(f"file:{path}?mode=ro", uri=True, timeout=1.0)
+        conn = sqlite3.connect(f"{path.resolve().as_uri()}?mode=ro", uri=True, timeout=1.0)
         return fn(conn), None
     except Exception as exc:
         return None, exc