diff --git a/lib/src/unit/ViewEngine.ts b/lib/src/unit/ViewEngine.ts
index 5107447..a38ba6a 100644
--- a/lib/src/unit/ViewEngine.ts
+++ b/lib/src/unit/ViewEngine.ts
@@ -186,10 +186,14 @@ console.log('template path resolved 1', resolved_path)
     protected async init_engine_handlebars() {
         const partials_dir: unknown = this.config.get('app.views.partials_dir')
         if ( String(partials_dir) ) {
-            const partials_path = this.template_path(String(partials_dir))
+            let partials_path = this.template_path(String(partials_dir))
 console.log({ partials_path, partials_dir })
             this.logger.info(`Registering Handlebars partials from: ${partials_path}`)
 
+            if ( partials_path.startsWith('file://') ) {
+                partials_path = partials_path.slice(7)
+            }
+
             for await ( const entry of fs.walk(partials_path) ) {
                 if ( !entry.isFile || !entry.path.endsWith(this.get_file_extension()) ) {
                     if ( entry.isFile ) this.logger.debug(`Skipping file in Handlebars partials path with invalid suffix: ${entry.path}`)