diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
index f69abe4..c84ccce 100644
--- a/.python-version
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.9.7
+3.10.5
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 60a7581..554338c 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.9
+ARG PYTHON_VERSION=3.10
 FROM docker.io/python:${PYTHON_VERSION}-alpine as builder
 ARG LIBOLM_VERSION=3.2.10
 RUN apk add --no-cache \
diff --git a/ops_bot/util/template.py b/ops_bot/util/template.py
index d2ca3ee..377dc9c 100644
--- a/ops_bot/util/template.py
+++ b/ops_bot/util/template.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 import os.path
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Tuple, Union
 
 from jinja2 import BaseLoader
@@ -24,12 +25,12 @@ from ops_bot import get_project_root
 from ops_bot.util import markdown
 
 
-def sync_read_file(path: str) -> str:
+def sync_read_file(path: Union[Path, str]) -> str:
     with open(path) as file:
         return file.read()
 
 
-def sync_list_files(directory: str) -> list[str]:
+def sync_list_files(directory: Union[Path, str]) -> list[str]:
     return os.listdir(directory)
 
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ class TemplateProxy:
 
 
 class PluginTemplateLoader(BaseLoader):
-    directory: str
+    directory: Path
     macros: str
 
     def __init__(self, base: str, directory: str) -> None:
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 36e6f90..4d0c90a 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ description = ""
 authors = ["Abel Luck <abel@guardianproject.info>"]
 
 [tool.poetry.dependencies]
-python = "^3.9"
+python = "^3.10"
 matrix-nio = {extras = ["e2e"], version = "^0.19.0"}
 fastapi = "^0.79.0"
 uvicorn = "^0.18.2"