diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/catalog/arguments.py b/src/hipscat_import/catalog/arguments.py
index a05ea9d4..fb43b35b 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/catalog/arguments.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/catalog/arguments.py
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 from typing import List
 
 from hipscat.catalog.catalog import CatalogInfo
-from hipscat.io import FilePointer, file_io
+from hipscat.io import FilePointer
 from hipscat.pixel_math import hipscat_id
 
 from hipscat_import.catalog.file_readers import InputReader, get_file_reader
 from hipscat_import.catalog.resume_plan import ResumePlan
-from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments
+from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments, find_input_paths
 
 # pylint: disable=too-many-locals,too-many-arguments,too-many-instance-attributes,too-many-branches,too-few-public-methods
 
@@ -102,14 +102,7 @@ def _check_arguments(self):
             self.file_reader = get_file_reader(self.input_format)
 
         # Basic checks complete - make more checks and create directories where necessary
-        if self.input_path:
-            if not file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(self.input_path):
-                raise FileNotFoundError("input_path not found on local storage")
-            self.input_paths = file_io.find_files_matching_path(self.input_path, f"*{self.input_format}")
-        elif self.input_file_list:
-            self.input_paths = self.input_file_list
-        if len(self.input_paths) == 0:
-            raise FileNotFoundError("No input files found")
+        self.input_paths = find_input_paths(self.input_path, f"*{self.input_format}", self.input_file_list)
         self.resume_plan = ResumePlan(
             resume=self.resume,
             progress_bar=self.progress_bar,
diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py
index 93f3bca6..74283f18 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/cross_match/macauff_arguments.py
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@
 from os import path
 from typing import List
 
-from hipscat.io import FilePointer, file_io
+from hipscat.io import FilePointer
 from hipscat.io.validation import is_valid_catalog
 
-from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments
+from hipscat_import.runtime_arguments import RuntimeArguments, find_input_paths
 
 # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
 # pylint: disable=unsupported-binary-operation
@@ -87,14 +87,7 @@ def _check_arguments(self):
             raise ValueError("Macauff column metadata file must point to valid file path.")
 
         # Basic checks complete - make more checks and create directories where necessary
-        if self.input_path:
-            if not file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(self.input_path):
-                raise FileNotFoundError("input_path not found on local storage")
-            self.input_paths = file_io.find_files_matching_path(self.input_path, f"*{self.input_format}")
-        elif self.input_file_list:
-            self.input_paths = self.input_file_list
-        if len(self.input_paths) == 0:
-            raise FileNotFoundError("No input files found")
+        self.input_paths = find_input_paths(self.input_path, f"*{self.input_format}", self.input_file_list)
 
         self.column_names = self.get_column_names()
 
diff --git a/src/hipscat_import/runtime_arguments.py b/src/hipscat_import/runtime_arguments.py
index f4e227e1..cd924888 100644
--- a/src/hipscat_import/runtime_arguments.py
+++ b/src/hipscat_import/runtime_arguments.py
@@ -124,3 +124,27 @@ def provenance_info(self) -> dict:
     def additional_runtime_provenance_info(self):
         """Any additional runtime args to be included in provenance info from subclasses"""
         return {}
+
+
+def find_input_paths(input_path="", file_matcher="", input_file_list=None):
+    """Helper method to find input paths, given either a prefix and format, or an
+    explicit list of paths.
+
+    Args:
+        input_path (str): prefix to search for
+        file_matcher (str): matcher to use when searching for files
+        input_file_list (List[str]): list of input paths
+    Returns:
+        matching files, if input_path is provided, otherwise, input_file_list
+    Raises:
+        FileNotFoundError if no files are found at the input_path and the provided list is empty.
+    """
+    if input_path:
+        if not file_io.does_file_or_directory_exist(input_path):
+            raise FileNotFoundError("input_path not found on local storage")
+        input_paths = file_io.find_files_matching_path(input_path, file_matcher)
+    elif input_file_list:
+        input_paths = input_file_list
+    if len(input_paths) == 0:
+        raise FileNotFoundError("No input files found")
+    return input_paths