diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230621-030733.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230621-030733.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0af1a005928
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230621-030733.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Fixes
+body: Fix a bad implicit string conversion regression in debug --config-dir code.
+time: 2023-06-21T03:07:33.815966-07:00
+custom:
+  Author: versusfacit
+  Issue: "7774"
diff --git a/core/dbt/cli/params.py b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
index 603c08d29d7..53275149e6e 100644
--- a/core/dbt/cli/params.py
+++ b/core/dbt/cli/params.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 config_dir = click.option(
     "--config-dir",
     envvar=None,
-    help="Show the configured location for the profiles.yml file and exit",
+    help="Print a system-specific command to access the directory that the current dbt project is searching for a profiles.yml. Then, exit. This flag renders other debug step flags no-ops.",
     is_flag=True,
 )
 
diff --git a/core/dbt/task/debug.py b/core/dbt/task/debug.py
index 9abc537ebd3..769c7fd8cad 100644
--- a/core/dbt/task/debug.py
+++ b/core/dbt/task/debug.py
@@ -102,13 +102,14 @@ def project_profile(self):
             return None
         return self.project.profile_name
 
-    def path_info(self):
-        open_cmd = dbt.clients.system.open_dir_cmd()
-        fire_event(OpenCommand(open_cmd=open_cmd, profiles_dir=self.profiles_dir))
-
     def run(self) -> bool:
+        # WARN: this is a legacy workflow that is not compatible with other runtime flags
         if self.args.config_dir:
-            self.path_info()
+            fire_event(
+                OpenCommand(
+                    open_cmd=dbt.clients.system.open_dir_cmd(), profiles_dir=str(self.profiles_dir)
+                )
+            )
             return DebugRunStatus.SUCCESS.value
 
         version: str = get_installed_version().to_version_string(skip_matcher=True)