diff --git a/audio/out/ao_pcm.c b/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
index ce55e70f03..cf13c478ac 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "mpv_talloc.h"
 
 #include "options/m_option.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 #include "audio/format.h"
 #include "ao.h"
 #include "internal.h"
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
-    char *outputfilename = mp_get_user_path(priv, ao->global, priv->outputfilename);
+    char *outputfilename = priv->outputfilename;
     if (!outputfilename) {
         outputfilename = talloc_strdup(priv, priv->waveheader ? "audiodump.wav"
                                                               : "audiodump.pcm");
diff --git a/common/encode_lavc.c b/common/encode_lavc.c
index 4772759ee3..11fc46627f 100644
--- a/common/encode_lavc.c
+++ b/common/encode_lavc.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "options/m_config.h"
 #include "options/m_option.h"
 #include "options/options.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 #include "osdep/timer.h"
 #include "video/out/vo.h"
 #include "mpv_talloc.h"
@@ -134,9 +133,7 @@ struct encode_lavc_context *encode_lavc_init(struct mpv_global *global)
 
     p->muxer->oformat = ctx->oformat;
 
-    char *path = mp_get_user_path(NULL, global, filename);
-    p->muxer->url = av_strdup(path);
-    talloc_free(path);
+    p->muxer->url = av_strdup(filename);
     MP_HANDLE_OOM(p->muxer->url);
 
     return ctx;
diff --git a/common/playlist.c b/common/playlist.c
index 6d03c030c2..eec7e665b9 100644
--- a/common/playlist.c
+++ b/common/playlist.c
@@ -404,12 +404,11 @@ struct playlist *playlist_parse_file(const char *file, struct mp_cancel *cancel,
     struct mp_log *log = mp_log_new(NULL, global->log, "!playlist_parser");
     mp_verbose(log, "Parsing playlist file %s...\n", file);
 
-    char *path = mp_get_user_path(NULL, global, file);
     struct demuxer_params p = {
         .force_format = "playlist",
         .stream_flags = STREAM_ORIGIN_DIRECT,
     };
-    struct demuxer *d = demux_open_url(path, &p, cancel, global);
+    struct demuxer *d = demux_open_url(file, &p, cancel, global);
     struct playlist *ret = NULL;
     if (!d)
         goto done;
@@ -436,7 +435,6 @@ struct playlist *playlist_parse_file(const char *file, struct mp_cancel *cancel,
 
 done:
     talloc_free(log);
-    talloc_free(path);
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/options/path.c b/options/path.c
index 8be6303b3b..a199c89a9a 100644
--- a/options/path.c
+++ b/options/path.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ void mp_init_paths(struct mpv_global *global, struct MPOpts *opts)
     if (!opts->load_config)
         force_configdir = "";
 
-    global->configdir = mp_get_user_path(global, global, force_configdir);
+    global->configdir = talloc_strdup(global, force_configdir);
 }
 
 char *mp_find_user_file(void *talloc_ctx, struct mpv_global *global,
diff --git a/player/loadfile.c b/player/loadfile.c
index f9b653185b..748b3f5731 100644
--- a/player/loadfile.c
+++ b/player/loadfile.c
@@ -857,11 +857,8 @@ int mp_add_external_file(struct MPContext *mpctx, char *filename,
 
     mp_core_unlock(mpctx);
 
-    char *path = mp_get_user_path(NULL, mpctx->global, filename);
     struct demuxer *demuxer =
-        demux_open_url(path, &params, cancel, mpctx->global);
-    talloc_free(path);
-
+        demux_open_url(filename, &params, cancel, mpctx->global);
     if (demuxer)
         enable_demux_thread(mpctx, demuxer);
 
@@ -1079,7 +1076,7 @@ static void load_chapters(struct MPContext *mpctx)
     bool free_src = false;
     char *chapter_file = mpctx->opts->chapter_file;
     if (chapter_file && chapter_file[0]) {
-        chapter_file = mp_get_user_path(NULL, mpctx->global, chapter_file);
+        chapter_file = talloc_strdup(NULL, chapter_file);
         mp_core_unlock(mpctx);
         struct demuxer_params p = {
             .stream_flags = STREAM_ORIGIN_DIRECT,
diff --git a/player/misc.c b/player/misc.c
index 09054b22f0..1c9efdf2dc 100644
--- a/player/misc.c
+++ b/player/misc.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "options/options.h"
 #include "options/m_property.h"
 #include "options/m_config.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 #include "common/common.h"
 #include "common/encode.h"
 #include "common/playlist.h"
@@ -270,7 +269,6 @@ int stream_dump(struct MPContext *mpctx, const char *source_filename)
     struct MPOpts *opts = mpctx->opts;
     bool ok = false;
 
-    char *filename = mp_get_user_path(NULL, mpctx->global, opts->stream_dump);
     stream_t *stream = stream_create(source_filename,
                                      STREAM_ORIGIN_DIRECT | STREAM_READ,
                                      mpctx->playback_abort, mpctx->global);
@@ -279,7 +277,7 @@ int stream_dump(struct MPContext *mpctx, const char *source_filename)
 
     int64_t size = stream_get_size(stream);
 
-    FILE *dest = fopen(filename, "wb");
+    FILE *dest = fopen(opts->stream_dump, "wb");
     if (!dest) {
         MP_ERR(mpctx, "Error opening dump file: %s\n", mp_strerror(errno));
         goto done;
@@ -307,7 +305,6 @@ int stream_dump(struct MPContext *mpctx, const char *source_filename)
     ok &= fclose(dest) == 0;
 done:
     free_stream(stream);
-    talloc_free(filename);
     return ok ? 0 : -1;
 }
 
diff --git a/stream/stream_bluray.c b/stream/stream_bluray.c
index 965be2943f..83b206a286 100644
--- a/stream/stream_bluray.c
+++ b/stream/stream_bluray.c
@@ -431,9 +431,7 @@ static int bluray_stream_open_internal(stream_t *s)
         bd_set_debug_mask(0);
 
     /* open device */
-    char *device_tmp = mp_get_user_path(NULL, s->global, device);
-    BLURAY *bd = bd_open(device_tmp, NULL);
-    talloc_free(device_tmp);
+    BLURAY *bd = bd_open(device, NULL);
     if (!bd) {
         MP_ERR(s, "Couldn't open Blu-ray device: %s\n", device);
         ret = STREAM_UNSUPPORTED;
diff --git a/stream/stream_cdda.c b/stream/stream_cdda.c
index e5dfef5131..22a3f720b1 100644
--- a/stream/stream_cdda.c
+++ b/stream/stream_cdda.c
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 #include "options/m_option.h"
 #include "options/m_config.h"
 #include "options/options.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 
 #if !HAVE_GPL
 #error GPL only
@@ -254,11 +253,11 @@ static int open_cdda(stream_t *st)
     int last_track;
 
     if (st->path[0]) {
-        p->device = talloc_strdup(priv, st->path);
+        p->device = st->path;
     } else if (p->cdda_device && p->cdda_device[0]) {
-        p->device = mp_get_user_path(priv, st->global, p->cdda_device);
+        p->device = p->cdda_device;
     } else {
-        p->device = talloc_strdup(priv, DEFAULT_OPTICAL_DEVICE);
+        p->device = DEFAULT_OPTICAL_DEVICE;
     }
 
 #if defined(__NetBSD__)
diff --git a/stream/stream_dvb.c b/stream/stream_dvb.c
index f9c33aaf87..0bbcf5e3ae 100644
--- a/stream/stream_dvb.c
+++ b/stream/stream_dvb.c
@@ -1118,11 +1118,12 @@ dvb_state_t *dvb_get_state(stream_t *stream)
                     continue;
                 }
 
-                void *talloc_ctx = talloc_new(NULL);
+                void *talloc_ctx = NULL;
                 char *conf_file;
                 if (priv->opts->cfg_file && priv->opts->cfg_file[0]) {
-                    conf_file = mp_get_user_path(talloc_ctx, global, priv->opts->cfg_file);
+                    conf_file = priv->opts->cfg_file;
                 } else {
+                    talloc_ctx = talloc_new(NULL);
                     conf_file = mp_find_config_file(talloc_ctx, global, conf_file_name);
                     if (conf_file) {
                         mp_verbose(log, "Ignoring other channels.conf files.\n");
diff --git a/stream/stream_dvdnav.c b/stream/stream_dvdnav.c
index 88195b5e5f..accaf9b302 100644
--- a/stream/stream_dvdnav.c
+++ b/stream/stream_dvdnav.c
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ static struct priv *new_dvdnav_stream(stream_t *stream, char *filename)
     if (!filename)
         return NULL;
 
-    if (!(priv->filename = mp_get_user_path(priv, stream->global, filename)))
+    if (!(priv->filename = talloc_strdup(priv, filename)))
         return NULL;
 
     priv->dvd_speed = priv->opts->speed;
diff --git a/sub/sd_ass.c b/sub/sd_ass.c
index 15d4db7d0b..d56facdbde 100644
--- a/sub/sd_ass.c
+++ b/sub/sd_ass.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "options/m_config.h"
 #include "options/options.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 #include "common/common.h"
 #include "common/msg.h"
 #include "demux/demux.h"
@@ -109,14 +108,11 @@ static const struct sd_filter_functions *const filters[] = {
 
 // Add default styles, if the track does not have any styles yet.
 // Apply style overrides if the user provides any.
-static void mp_ass_add_default_styles(struct sd *sd, ASS_Track *track, struct mp_subtitle_opts *opts,
-                                      struct mp_subtitle_shared_opts *shared_opts)
+static void mp_ass_add_default_styles(ASS_Track *track, struct mp_subtitle_opts *opts,
+                                      struct mp_subtitle_shared_opts *shared_opts, int order)
 {
-    if (opts->ass_styles_file && shared_opts->ass_style_override[sd->order]) {
-        char *file = mp_get_user_path(NULL, sd->global, opts->ass_styles_file);
-        ass_read_styles(track, file, NULL);
-        talloc_free(file);
-    }
+    if (opts->ass_styles_file && shared_opts->ass_style_override[order])
+        ass_read_styles(track, opts->ass_styles_file, NULL);
 
     if (track->n_styles == 0) {
         if (!track->PlayResY) {
@@ -131,7 +127,7 @@ static void mp_ass_add_default_styles(struct sd *sd, ASS_Track *track, struct mp
         mp_ass_set_style(style, track->PlayResY, opts->sub_style);
     }
 
-    if (shared_opts->ass_style_override[sd->order])
+    if (shared_opts->ass_style_override[order])
         ass_process_force_style(track);
 }
 
@@ -260,7 +256,7 @@ static void assobjects_init(struct sd *sd)
     ctx->shadow_track = ass_new_track(ctx->ass_library);
     ctx->shadow_track->PlayResX = MP_ASS_FONT_PLAYRESX;
     ctx->shadow_track->PlayResY = MP_ASS_FONT_PLAYRESY;
-    mp_ass_add_default_styles(sd, ctx->shadow_track, opts, shared_opts);
+    mp_ass_add_default_styles(ctx->shadow_track, opts, shared_opts, sd->order);
 
     char *extradata = sd->codec->extradata;
     int extradata_size = sd->codec->extradata_size;
@@ -271,7 +267,7 @@ static void assobjects_init(struct sd *sd)
     if (extradata)
         ass_process_codec_private(ctx->ass_track, extradata, extradata_size);
 
-    mp_ass_add_default_styles(sd, ctx->ass_track, opts, shared_opts);
+    mp_ass_add_default_styles(ctx->ass_track, opts, shared_opts, sd->order);
 
 #if LIBASS_VERSION >= 0x01302000
     ass_set_check_readorder(ctx->ass_track, sd->opts->sub_clear_on_seek ? 0 : 1);
diff --git a/video/out/drm_common.c b/video/out/drm_common.c
index ffc5ebfbad..6dff794613 100644
--- a/video/out/drm_common.c
+++ b/video/out/drm_common.c
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@
 #include "common/msg.h"
 #include "misc/ctype.h"
 #include "options/m_config.h"
-#include "options/path.h"
 #include "osdep/io.h"
 #include "osdep/poll_wrapper.h"
 #include "osdep/timer.h"
@@ -944,7 +943,7 @@ static bool card_has_connection(const char *path)
 static void get_primary_device_path(struct vo_drm_state *drm)
 {
     if (drm->opts->device_path) {
-        drm->card_path = mp_get_user_path(drm, drm->vo->global, drm->opts->device_path);
+        drm->card_path = talloc_strdup(drm, drm->opts->device_path);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/video/out/vo_image.c b/video/out/vo_image.c
index f1fbb26c24..29bd775113 100644
--- a/video/out/vo_image.c
+++ b/video/out/vo_image.c
@@ -66,16 +66,13 @@ struct priv {
     struct vo_image_opts *opts;
 
     struct mp_image *current;
-    char *dir;
     int frame;
 };
 
 static bool checked_mkdir(struct vo *vo, const char *buf)
 {
-    struct priv *p = vo->priv;
-    p->dir = mp_get_user_path(vo, vo->global, buf);
-    MP_INFO(vo, "Creating output directory '%s'...\n", p->dir);
-    if (mkdir(p->dir, 0755) < 0) {
+    MP_INFO(vo, "Creating output directory '%s'...\n", buf);
+    if (mkdir(buf, 0755) < 0) {
         char *errstr = mp_strerror(errno);
         if (errno == EEXIST) {
             struct stat stat_p;
@@ -120,8 +117,8 @@ static void flip_page(struct vo *vo)
     char *filename = talloc_asprintf(t, "%08d.%s", p->frame,
                                      image_writer_file_ext(p->opts->opts));
 
-    if (p->dir && strlen(p->dir))
-        filename = mp_path_join(t, p->dir, filename);
+    if (p->opts->outdir && strlen(p->opts->outdir))
+        filename = mp_path_join(t, p->opts->outdir, filename);
 
     MP_INFO(vo, "Saving %s\n", filename);
     write_image(p->current, p->opts->opts, filename, vo->global, vo->log, true);