diff --git a/interfaces/internal_interface.cpp b/interfaces/internal_interface.cpp
index 917b8ec..c990632 100644
--- a/interfaces/internal_interface.cpp
+++ b/interfaces/internal_interface.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 
 #include <sdbusplus/message.hpp>
 
+#include <algorithm>
+
 namespace phosphor
 {
 namespace led
@@ -50,9 +52,11 @@
 
     std::string s = boost::join(words, "_");
 
-    sdbusplus::message::object_path path(s);
+    // we assume the string to be a correct dbus name besides
+    // this detail
+    std::replace(s.begin(), s.end(), '-', '_');
 
-    return path.str;
+    return s;
 }
 
 void InternalInterface::createLEDPath(const std::string& ledName)
@@ -77,8 +81,7 @@
                "DBUSNAME", name);
 
     // Unique path name representing a single LED.
-    sdbusplus::message::object_path objPath = std::string(physParent);
-    objPath /= name;
+    std::string objPath = std::string(physParent) + "/" + name;
 
     if (leds.contains(objPath))
     {