diff --git a/scripts/o3de/o3de/manifest.py b/scripts/o3de/o3de/manifest.py
index 6e449c19a3..297d8e39d2 100644
--- a/scripts/o3de/o3de/manifest.py
+++ b/scripts/o3de/o3de/manifest.py
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ def get_gem_json_data(gem_name: str = None, gem_path: str or pathlib.Path = None
     if gem_name and not gem_path:
         gem_path = get_registered(gem_name=gem_name, project_path=project_path)
 
-    if isinstance(gem_path, pathlib.Path) and gem_path.is_file():
+    if pathlib.Path(gem_path).is_file():
         return get_json_data_file(gem_path, 'gem', validation.valid_o3de_gem_json)
     else:
         return get_json_data('gem', gem_path, validation.valid_o3de_gem_json)