diff --git a/wlauto/result_processors/ipynb_exporter/__init__.py b/wlauto/result_processors/ipynb_exporter/__init__.py
index 6689b3e3..e03f4377 100644
--- a/wlauto/result_processors/ipynb_exporter/__init__.py
+++ b/wlauto/result_processors/ipynb_exporter/__init__.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from wlauto import File, Parameter, ResultProcessor
 from wlauto.exceptions import ConfigError, ResultProcessorError
 import wlauto.utils.ipython as ipython
 from wlauto.utils.misc import open_file
+from wlauto.utils.types import file_path
 
 
 DEFAULT_NOTEBOOK_TEMPLATE = 'template.ipynb'
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ class IPythonNotebookExporter(ResultProcessor):
 
     parameters = [
         Parameter('notebook_template', default=DEFAULT_NOTEBOOK_TEMPLATE,
+                  kind=file_path,
                   description='''Filename of the ipython notebook template.  If
                   no `notebook_template` is specified, the example template
                   above is used.'''),
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ class IPythonNotebookExporter(ResultProcessor):
                   ending in ``.pdf``.'''),
         Parameter('show_notebook', kind=bool,
                   description='Open a web browser with the resulting notebook.'),
-        Parameter('notebook_directory',
+        Parameter('notebook_directory', kind=file_path,
                   description='''Path to the notebooks directory served by the
                   ipython notebook server. You must set it if
                   ``show_notebook`` is selected. The ipython notebook
diff --git a/wlauto/utils/ipython.py b/wlauto/utils/ipython.py
index c1439f40..3f13fe12 100644
--- a/wlauto/utils/ipython.py
+++ b/wlauto/utils/ipython.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ NBFORMAT_VERSION = 3
 
 
 if IPython:
-    if LooseVersion('5.0.0') > LooseVersion(IPython.__version__) >= LooseVersion('4.0.0'):
+    if LooseVersion('6.0.0') > LooseVersion(IPython.__version__) >= LooseVersion('4.0.0'):
         import nbformat
         from jupyter_client.manager import KernelManager
 
diff --git a/wlauto/utils/types.py b/wlauto/utils/types.py
index 725b22d8..c3fd571a 100644
--- a/wlauto/utils/types.py
+++ b/wlauto/utils/types.py
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ def numeric(value):
             return ivalue
     return fvalue
 
+def file_path(value):
+    """Handles expansion of paths containing '~'"""
+    return os.path.expanduser(value)
 
 def list_of_strs(value):
     """