diff --git a/esphome/components/micro_wake_word/__init__.py b/esphome/components/micro_wake_word/__init__.py
index 9073d103f1..def2808e54 100644
--- a/esphome/components/micro_wake_word/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/micro_wake_word/__init__.py
@@ -329,11 +329,14 @@ async def to_code(config):
         file: Path = base_dir / h.hexdigest()[:8] / model_config[CONF_FILE]
 
     elif model_config[CONF_TYPE] == TYPE_LOCAL:
-        file = model_config[CONF_PATH]
+        file = Path(model_config[CONF_PATH])
 
     elif model_config[CONF_TYPE] == TYPE_HTTP:
         file = _compute_local_file_path(model_config) / "manifest.json"
 
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Unsupported config type: {model_config[CONF_TYPE]}")
+
     manifest, data = _load_model_data(file)
 
     rhs = [HexInt(x) for x in data]