diff --git a/src/fmu/config/utilities.py b/src/fmu/config/utilities.py
index b80a57f..e6d676a 100644
--- a/src/fmu/config/utilities.py
+++ b/src/fmu/config/utilities.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """Module with some simple functions, e.g. for parsing for YAML into RMS
 """
-import os
 
 # for ordered dicts!
 from fmu.config import oyaml as yaml
@@ -24,9 +23,6 @@ def yaml_load(filename, safe=True, tool=None):
 
     """
 
-    if not os.path.isfile(filename):
-        raise IOError("File {} cannot be read".format(filename))
-
     with open(filename, "r") as stream:
         if safe:
             cfg = yaml.safe_load(stream)
diff --git a/tests/test_utilities.py b/tests/test_utilities.py
index a450159..f53ca78 100644
--- a/tests/test_utilities.py
+++ b/tests/test_utilities.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 import fmu.config as config
 from fmu.config import utilities as utils
 
+import pytest
+
 # import fmu.config.fmuconfigrunner as fmurun
 
 fmux = config.etc.Interaction()
@@ -20,3 +22,6 @@ def test_basic_tools():
     cfg = utils.yaml_load(REEK)
 
     assert cfg["global"]["name"] == "Reek"
+
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+        utils.yaml_load("not_a_file.xyz")