diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/run.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/run.dart
index 730be165f38..f1df87bbd45 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/run.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/run.dart
@@ -364,13 +364,16 @@ class RunCommand extends RunCommandBase {
     }).toList();
 
     ResidentRunner runner;
+    final String applicationBinaryPath = argResults['use-application-binary'];
     if (hotMode) {
       runner = new HotRunner(
         flutterDevices,
         target: targetFile,
         debuggingOptions: _createDebuggingOptions(),
         benchmarkMode: argResults['benchmark'],
-        applicationBinary: argResults['use-application-binary'],
+        applicationBinary: applicationBinaryPath == null
+            ? null
+            : fs.file(applicationBinaryPath),
         projectRootPath: argResults['project-root'],
         packagesFilePath: globalResults['packages'],
         dillOutputPath: argResults['output-dill'],
@@ -383,7 +386,9 @@ class RunCommand extends RunCommandBase {
         target: targetFile,
         debuggingOptions: _createDebuggingOptions(),
         traceStartup: traceStartup,
-        applicationBinary: argResults['use-application-binary'],
+        applicationBinary: applicationBinaryPath == null
+            ? null
+            : fs.file(applicationBinaryPath),
         stayResident: stayResident,
         ipv6: ipv6,
       );