diff --git a/serde/src/de/impls.rs b/serde/src/de/impls.rs
index acd0a033..160d0e32 100644
--- a/serde/src/de/impls.rs
+++ b/serde/src/de/impls.rs
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ impl Deserialize for path::PathBuf {
     fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: &mut D) -> Result<path::PathBuf, D::Error>
         where D: Deserializer,
     {
-        deserializer.deserialize(PathBufVisitor)
+        deserializer.deserialize_string(PathBufVisitor)
     }
 }