diff --git a/tools/lammps-gui/codeeditor.cpp b/tools/lammps-gui/codeeditor.cpp
index a1bda769c5..6437f5cfa1 100644
--- a/tools/lammps-gui/codeeditor.cpp
+++ b/tools/lammps-gui/codeeditor.cpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ void CodeEditor::dropEvent(QDropEvent *event)
 {
     if (event->mimeData()->hasUrls()) {
         event->accept();
-        auto file = event->mimeData()->urls()[0].url().remove("file://");
+        auto file = event->mimeData()->urls()[0].toLocalFile();
         auto gui  = dynamic_cast<LammpsGui *>(parent());
         if (gui) {
             moveCursor(QTextCursor::Start, QTextCursor::MoveAnchor);