diff --git a/src/client/data/config.rs b/src/client/data/config.rs
index 3455a62..556011c 100644
--- a/src/client/data/config.rs
+++ b/src/client/data/config.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub struct Config {
 
 impl Config {
     /// Loads a JSON configuration from the desired path.
-    pub fn load(path: &Path) -> Result<Config> {
+    pub fn load<P: AsRef<Path>>(path: P) -> Result<Config> {
         let mut file = try!(File::open(path));
         let mut data = String::new();
         try!(file.read_to_string(&mut data));
@@ -55,11 +55,6 @@ impl Config {
         )
     }
 
-    /// Loads a JSON configuration using the string as a UTF-8 path.
-    pub fn load_utf8(path: &str) -> Result<Config> {
-        Config::load(Path::new(path))
-    }
-
     /// Determines whether or not the nickname provided is the owner of the bot.
     pub fn is_owner(&self, nickname: &str) -> bool {
         self.owners.as_ref().map(|o| o.contains(&nickname.to_string())).unwrap()
@@ -186,7 +181,7 @@ mod test {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn load_utf8() {
+    fn load_from_str() {
         let cfg = Config {
             owners: Some(vec![format!("test")]),
             nickname: Some(format!("test")),
@@ -204,7 +199,7 @@ mod test {
             user_info: None,
             options: Some(HashMap::new()),
         };
-        assert_eq!(Config::load_utf8("client_config.json").unwrap(), cfg);
+        assert_eq!(Config::load("client_config.json").unwrap(), cfg);
     }
 
 
diff --git a/src/client/server/mod.rs b/src/client/server/mod.rs
index 34b2306..cf8d5ee 100644
--- a/src/client/server/mod.rs
+++ b/src/client/server/mod.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::borrow::ToOwned;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::error::Error as StdError;
 use std::io::{BufReader, BufWriter, Error, ErrorKind, Result};
+use std::path::Path;
 use std::sync::{Mutex, RwLock};
 use std::iter::Map;
 use client::conn::{Connection, NetStream};
@@ -49,8 +50,8 @@ pub type NetIrcServer = IrcServer<BufReader<NetStream>, BufWriter<NetStream>>;
 impl IrcServer<BufReader<NetStream>, BufWriter<NetStream>> {
     /// Creates a new IRC Server connection from the configuration at the specified path,
     /// connecting immediately.
-    pub fn new(config: &str) -> Result<NetIrcServer> {
-        IrcServer::from_config(try!(Config::load_utf8(config)))
+    pub fn new<P: AsRef<Path>>(config: P) -> Result<NetIrcServer> {
+        IrcServer::from_config(try!(Config::load(config)))
     }
 
     /// Creates a new IRC server connection from the specified configuration, connecting