--- a/configuration/configuration.py	Tue Dec 04 15:13:07 2012 -0800
+++ b/configuration/configuration.py	Tue Dec 04 15:37:34 2012 -0800
@@ -434,14 +434,20 @@
                 continue
             parser.add_option(*args, **kw)
 
-    def read_configuration_files(self, options, args):
-        """deserialize configuration"""
+    def configuration_files(self, options, args):
+        """configuration files to read"""
 
         configuration_files = getattr(options, self.load_option, args)
         if not configuration_files:
             configuration_files = []
         if isinstance(configuration_files, basestring):
             configuration_files = [configuration_files]
+        return configuration_files
+
+    def read_configuration_files(self, options, args):
+        """deserialize configuration"""
+
+        configuration_files = self.configuration_files(options, args)
         missing = [i for i in configuration_files
                    if not os.path.exists(i)]
         if missing: