diff --git a/reproject/healpix/_utils.py b/reproject/healpix/_utils.py
index 5e3fc84f4..f99576024 100644
--- a/reproject/healpix/_utils.py
+++ b/reproject/healpix/_utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import numpy as np
 from astropy.coordinates import (
     ICRS,
@@ -40,14 +42,12 @@ def parse_input_healpix_data(input_data, field=0, hdu_in=None, nested=None):
         array_in = data[data.columns[field].name].ravel()
         if "ORDERING" in header:
             nested = header["ORDERING"].lower() == "nested"
-    elif isinstance(input_data, str):
-        # NOTE: hdu is not closed here.
-        hdu = fits.open(input_data)[hdu_in or 1]
-        return parse_input_healpix_data(hdu, field=field)
-    elif isinstance(input_data, tuple) and isinstance(input_data[0], np.ndarray):
+        return array_in, coordinate_system_in, nested
+    if isinstance(input_data, str | Path):
+        with fits.open(input_data) as hdulist:
+            return parse_input_healpix_data(hdulist[hdu_in or 1], field=field)
+    if isinstance(input_data, tuple) and isinstance(input_data[0], np.ndarray):
         array_in = input_data[0]
         coordinate_system_in = parse_coord_system(input_data[1])
-    else:
-        raise TypeError("input_data should either be an HDU object or a tuple of (array, frame)")
-
-    return array_in, coordinate_system_in, nested
+        return array_in, coordinate_system_in, nested
+    raise TypeError("input_data should either be an HDU object or a tuple of (array, frame)")
diff --git a/reproject/healpix/tests/test_utils.py b/reproject/healpix/tests/test_utils.py
index 61bda12a8..4ec89d958 100644
--- a/reproject/healpix/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/reproject/healpix/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import numpy as np
 import pytest
 from astropy.coordinates import FK5, Galactic
@@ -44,6 +46,10 @@ def test_parse_input_healpix_data(tmpdir):
     array, coordinate_system, nested = parse_input_healpix_data(filename)
     np.testing.assert_allclose(array, data)
 
+    # As Path
+    array, coordinate_system, nested = parse_input_healpix_data(Path(filename))
+    np.testing.assert_allclose(array, data)
+
     # As array
     array, coordinate_system, nested = parse_input_healpix_data((data, "galactic"))
     np.testing.assert_allclose(array, data)