diff --git a/pytest_container/inspect.py b/pytest_container/inspect.py
index 2eed592..8b9d208 100644
--- a/pytest_container/inspect.py
+++ b/pytest_container/inspect.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from dataclasses import field
 from datetime import timedelta
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict
 from typing import List
 from typing import Optional
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ class Config:
     stop_signal: Union[int, str]
 
     #: The working directory of the container
-    workingdir: str
+    workingdir: Path
 
     #: optional healthcheck defined for the underlying container image
     healthcheck: Optional[HealthCheck] = None
diff --git a/pytest_container/runtime.py b/pytest_container/runtime.py
index 517f712..dd55a01 100644
--- a/pytest_container/runtime.py
+++ b/pytest_container/runtime.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from dataclasses import field
 from os import getenv
+from pathlib import Path
 from subprocess import check_output
 from typing import Any
 from typing import Callable
@@ -522,7 +523,7 @@ def inspect_container(self, container_id: str) -> ContainerInspect:
             image=config["Image"],
             entrypoint=entrypoint,
             labels=config["Labels"],
-            workingdir=config["WorkingDir"],
+            workingdir=Path(config["WorkingDir"]),
             env=dict([env.split("=", maxsplit=1) for env in config["Env"]]),
             stop_signal=self._stop_signal_from_inspect_conf(config),
             healthcheck=healthcheck,
@@ -609,7 +610,7 @@ def inspect_container(self, container_id: str) -> ContainerInspect:
             labels=config["Labels"],
             # docker sometimes omits the working directory,
             # then it defaults to
-            workingdir=config["WorkingDir"] or "/",
+            workingdir=Path(config["WorkingDir"] or "/"),
             stop_signal=self._stop_signal_from_inspect_conf(config),
             env=env,
             healthcheck=healthcheck,
diff --git a/tests/test_container_build.py b/tests/test_container_build.py
index 1632e59..1c7a4f1 100644
--- a/tests/test_container_build.py
+++ b/tests/test_container_build.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_auto_container_fixture(auto_container: ContainerData):
     "container", [BUSYBOX_WITH_ENTRYPOINT], indirect=["container"]
 )
 def test_custom_entry_point(container: ContainerData):
-    container.connection.run_expect([0], "true")
+    container.connection.check_output("true")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def test_default_entry_point(container: ContainerData):
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("container", [CONTAINER_THAT_STOPS], indirect=True)
 def test_container_that_stops(container: ContainerData) -> None:
     # it should just be alive
-    container.connection.run_expect([0], "true")
+    container.connection.check_output("true")
 
 
 def test_container_size(
@@ -280,10 +280,9 @@ def test_multistage_build_target(
         extra_build_args=get_extra_build_args(pytestconfig),
     )
     assert (
-        LOCALHOST.run_expect(
-            [0],
+        LOCALHOST.check_output(
             f"{container_runtime.runner_binary} run --rm {first_target}",
-        ).stdout.strip()
+        ).strip()
         == "foobar"
     )
 
@@ -297,10 +296,9 @@ def test_multistage_build_target(
 
     assert first_target != second_target
     assert (
-        LOCALHOST.run_expect(
-            [0],
+        LOCALHOST.check_output(
             f"{container_runtime.runner_binary} run --rm {second_target} /bin/test.sh",
-        ).stdout.strip()
+        ).strip()
         == "foobar"
     )
 
@@ -310,11 +308,10 @@ def test_multistage_build_target(
     ):
         assert (
             distro
-            in LOCALHOST.run_expect(
-                [0],
+            in LOCALHOST.check_output(
                 f"{container_runtime.runner_binary} run --rm --entrypoint= {target} "
                 "cat /etc/os-release",
-            ).stdout.strip()
+            ).strip()
         )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_inspect.py b/tests/test_inspect.py
index 93aae6e..321f219 100644
--- a/tests/test_inspect.py
+++ b/tests/test_inspect.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # pylint: disable=missing-function-docstring,missing-module-docstring,line-too-long
 import json
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import List
 
 import pytest
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ def test_inspect(
 
     assert inspect.config.image == expected_img
     assert inspect.config.cmd == ["/bin/sh"]
-    assert inspect.config.workingdir == "/foobar/"
+    assert Path("/foobar/") == inspect.config.workingdir
 
     assert (
         not inspect.state.paused
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ def test_inspect_unset_workdir(container: ContainerData) -> None:
     docker sometimes omits the workingdir setting.
 
     """
-    assert container.inspect.config.workingdir == "/"
+    assert container.inspect.config.workingdir == Path("/")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(