diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index 81f39cda485..4e247ff1e94 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -972,11 +972,31 @@ def _initini(self, args):
         ns, unknown_args = self._parser.parse_known_and_unknown_args(args, namespace=self.option.copy())
         r = determine_setup(ns.inifilename, ns.file_or_dir + unknown_args, warnfunc=self.warn)
         self.rootdir, self.inifile, self.inicfg = r
-        self._parser.extra_info['rootdir'] = self.rootdir
-        self._parser.extra_info['inifile'] = self.inifile
-        self.invocation_dir = py.path.local()
         self._parser.addini('addopts', 'extra command line options', 'args')
         self._parser.addini('minversion', 'minimally required pytest version')
+        self._parser.addini('pathtype', 'path implementation to be used', default='pylib')
+
+        self.invocation_dir = self.make_path()
+        self.rootdir = self.make_path(self.rootdir)
+        self.inifile = self.make_path(self.inifile)
+        self._parser.extra_info['rootdir'] = self.rootdir
+        self._parser.extra_info['inifile'] = self.inifile
+
+    def make_path(self, input=None):
+        if input is None:
+            input = os.getcwd()
+        pathtype = self.getini('pathtype')
+        if pathtype == 'pylib':
+            return py.path.local(input)
+        elif pathtype == 'pathlib':
+            # for pythons that dont use fspath
+            if isinstance(input, py.path.local):
+                input = str(input)
+            import pathlib
+            return pathlib.Path(input)
+        elif pathtype == 'pathlib2':
+            import pathlib2
+            return pathlib2.Path(input)
 
     def _consider_importhook(self, args, entrypoint_name):
         """Install the PEP 302 import hook if using assertion re-writing.
@@ -1311,7 +1331,7 @@ def determine_setup(inifile, args, warnfunc=None):
                 if rootdir is None:
                     rootdir = get_common_ancestor([py.path.local(), ancestor])
                     is_fs_root = os.path.splitdrive(str(rootdir))[1] == os.sep
-                    if is_fs_root:
+                    if is_fs_root: 
                         rootdir = ancestor
     return rootdir, inifile, inicfg or {}
 
diff --git a/testing/test_config.py b/testing/test_config.py
index e6aa423e83a..bcd8f9c58ad 100644
--- a/testing/test_config.py
+++ b/testing/test_config.py
@@ -4,6 +4,23 @@
 from _pytest.config import getcfg, get_common_ancestor, determine_setup
 from _pytest.main import EXIT_NOTESTSCOLLECTED
 
+try:
+    from pathlib import Path as PathlibPath
+except ImportError:
+    PathlibPath = None
+
+try:
+    from pathlib2 import Path as Pathlib2Path
+except ImportError:
+    Pathlib2Path = None
+
+PATHIMPLS = {
+    'pylib': py.path.local,
+    'pathlib': PathlibPath,
+    'pathlib2': Pathlib2Path,
+}
+
+
 class TestParseIni:
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize('section, filename',
@@ -73,6 +90,20 @@ def test_toxini_before_lower_pytestini(self, testdir):
         config = testdir.parseconfigure(sub)
         assert config.getini("minversion") == "2.0"
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('pathimpl, pathtype', sorted(PATHIMPLS.items()))
+    def test_configure_makepath(self, testdir, pathimpl, pathtype):
+        if pathtype is None:
+            pytest.skip(
+                "{} path implementation is missing, not testing"
+                .format(pathimpl))
+        testdir.makeini("""
+            [pytest]
+            pathtype = {}
+        """.format(pathimpl))
+        # disable cacheprovider to get out of breaking bad
+        config = testdir.parseconfigure('-p', 'no:cacheprovider')
+        assert isinstance(config.make_path(testdir.tmpdir), pathtype)
+
     @pytest.mark.xfail(reason="probably not needed")
     def test_confcutdir(self, testdir):
         sub = testdir.mkdir("sub")
@@ -809,4 +840,7 @@ def test_with_existing_file_in_subdir(self, tmpdir):
             rootdir, inifile, inicfg = determine_setup(None, ['a/exist'])
             assert rootdir == tmpdir
             assert inifile is None
+ 
+
+