diff --git a/autotest/pst_from_tests.py b/autotest/pst_from_tests.py
index 233387530..e2768319a 100644
--- a/autotest/pst_from_tests.py
+++ b/autotest/pst_from_tests.py
@@ -1180,7 +1180,7 @@ def mf6_freyberg_da_test():
     print(pf.org_files)
 
     # build pest
-    pst = pf.build_pst('freyberg.pst')
+    pst = pf.build_pst('freyberg.pst', version=2)
     pst.write(os.path.join(template_ws,"freyberg6_da.pst"),version=2)
 
 
@@ -2388,8 +2388,9 @@ def test_get_filepath():
     #freyberg_prior_build_test()
     #mf6_freyberg_test()
     #mf6_freyberg_shortnames_test()
-    # mf6_freyberg_da_test()
+    mf6_freyberg_da_test()
     #mf6_freyberg_direct_test()
     #mf6_freyberg_varying_idomain()
     #xsec_test()
     mf6_freyberg_short_direct_test()
+
diff --git a/pyemu/pst/pst_handler.py b/pyemu/pst/pst_handler.py
index 3d6fce27b..264d18562 100644
--- a/pyemu/pst/pst_handler.py
+++ b/pyemu/pst/pst_handler.py
@@ -1488,6 +1488,7 @@ def sanity_checks(self):
 
     def _write_version2(self, new_filename, use_pst_path=True, pst_rel_path="."):
         pst_path = None
+        new_filename = str(new_filename)  # ensure convert to str
         if use_pst_path:
             pst_path, _ = Pst._parse_path_agnostic(new_filename)
         if pst_rel_path == ".":
diff --git a/pyemu/utils/pst_from.py b/pyemu/utils/pst_from.py
index 41377ba17..c8ba42eda 100644
--- a/pyemu/utils/pst_from.py
+++ b/pyemu/utils/pst_from.py
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ def add_parameters(
         par_data_cols = pyemu.pst_utils.pst_config["par_fieldnames"]
         self.logger.log(
             "adding {0} type {1} style parameters for file(s) {2}".format(
-                par_type, par_style, str(filenames)
+                par_type, par_style, [str(f) for f in filenames]
             )
         )
         if geostruct is not None:
@@ -1875,8 +1875,9 @@ def add_parameters(
             #     variograms=v)
 
         self.logger.log(
-            "adding {0} type {1} style parameters for file(s) {2}"
-            "".format(par_type, par_style, str(filenames))
+            "adding {0} type {1} style parameters for file(s) {2}".format(
+                par_type, par_style, [str(f) for f in filenames]
+            )
         )
 
         if rebuild_pst:  # may want to just update pst and rebuild
@@ -2923,4 +2924,4 @@ def get_relative_filepath(folder, filename):
     """Like :func:`~pyemu.utils.pst_from.get_filepath`, except
     return path for filename relative to folder.
     """
-    return get_filepath(folder, filename).relative_to(folder)
\ No newline at end of file
+    return get_filepath(folder, filename).relative_to(folder)