diff --git a/marc_db/ingest.py b/marc_db/ingest.py
index 7ffcda0..4c444cd 100644
--- a/marc_db/ingest.py
+++ b/marc_db/ingest.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, Iterable, Optional, Tuple, Callable
+from typing import Callable, Dict, Iterable, Optional, Union
 
 import pandas as pd
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ def _ensure_required_columns(df: pd.DataFrame, required: Iterable[str]):
         raise ValueError(f"Missing required column(s): {', '.join(missing)}")
 
 
+def _load_dataframe(data: Optional[Union[pd.DataFrame, Path, str]]) -> Optional[pd.DataFrame]:
+    if data is None or isinstance(data, pd.DataFrame):
+        return data
+    return pd.read_csv(Path(data), sep="\t")
+
+
 def _ingest_isolates(df: pd.DataFrame, session: Session):
     isolate_cols = [
         "SampleID",
@@ -202,6 +208,12 @@ def ingest_from_tsvs(
     """
 
     created_session = False
+    isolates = _load_dataframe(isolates)
+    assemblies = _load_dataframe(assemblies)
+    assembly_qcs = _load_dataframe(assembly_qcs)
+    taxonomic_assignments = _load_dataframe(taxonomic_assignments)
+    contaminants = _load_dataframe(contaminants)
+    antimicrobials = _load_dataframe(antimicrobials)
     if session is None:
         session = get_session()
         created_session = True
diff --git a/tests/test_ingest.py b/tests/test_ingest.py
index 015badd..4944f71 100644
--- a/tests/test_ingest.py
+++ b/tests/test_ingest.py
@@ -57,3 +57,19 @@ def test_conflicting_duplicate_rows():
 
     session.close()
     engine.dispose()
+
+
+def test_ingest_accepts_path_strings():
+    engine = create_engine("sqlite:///:memory:")
+    Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine)
+    session = Session()
+    Base.metadata.create_all(engine)
+
+    tsv_path = str(data_dir / "test_multi_aliquot.tsv")
+    ingest_from_tsvs(isolates=tsv_path, yes=True, session=session)
+
+    assert len(get_isolates(session)) == 2
+    assert len(get_aliquots(session)) == 5
+
+    session.close()
+    engine.dispose()