diff --git a/context/context.go b/context/context.go
index ad3d006..0dde590 100644
--- a/context/context.go
+++ b/context/context.go
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
 package context
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
-	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"path"
-	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
 	"github.com/polydawn/meep"
 	"github.com/tazjin/kontemplate/util"
 )
@@ -35,27 +30,8 @@ type ContextLoadingError struct {
 
 // Attempt to load and deserialise a Context from the specified file.
 func LoadContextFromFile(filename string) (*Context, error) {
-	file, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, meep.New(
-			&ContextLoadingError{Filename: filename},
-			meep.Cause(err),
-		)
-	}
-
 	var c Context
-
-	if strings.HasSuffix(filename, "json") {
-		err = json.Unmarshal(file, &c)
-	} else if strings.HasSuffix(filename, "yaml") || strings.HasSuffix(filename, "yml") {
-		err = yaml.Unmarshal(file, &c)
-	} else {
-		return nil, meep.New(
-			&ContextLoadingError{Filename: filename},
-			meep.Cause(fmt.Errorf("File format not supported. Must be JSON or YAML.")),
-		)
-	}
+	err := util.LoadJsonOrYaml(filename, &c)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, meep.New(
@@ -112,16 +88,14 @@ func loadDefaultValues(rs *ResourceSet, c *Context) *map[string]interface{} {
 	var defaultVars map[string]interface{}
 
 	// Attempt to load YAML values
-	y, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path.Join(c.BaseDir, rs.Name, "default.yaml"))
+	err := util.LoadJsonOrYaml(path.Join(c.BaseDir, rs.Name, "default.yaml"), &defaultVars)
 	if err == nil {
-		yaml.Unmarshal(y, &defaultVars)
 		return util.Merge(&defaultVars, &rs.Values)
 	}
 
 	// Attempt to load JSON values
-	j, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path.Join(c.BaseDir, rs.Name, "default.json"))
+	err = util.LoadJsonOrYaml(path.Join(c.BaseDir, rs.Name, "default.json"), &defaultVars)
 	if err == nil {
-		json.Unmarshal(j, &defaultVars)
 		return util.Merge(&defaultVars, &rs.Values)
 	}
 
diff --git a/util/util.go b/util/util.go
index ea9f636..0c5815a 100644
--- a/util/util.go
+++ b/util/util.go
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 package util
 
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/ghodss/yaml"
+)
+
 // Merges two maps together. Values from the second map override values in the first map.
 // The returned map is new if anything was changed.
 func Merge(in1 *map[string]interface{}, in2 *map[string]interface{}) *map[string]interface{} {
@@ -22,3 +31,21 @@ func Merge(in1 *map[string]interface{}, in2 *map[string]interface{}) *map[string
 
 	return &new
 }
+
+// Loads either a YAML or JSON file from the specified path and deserialises it into the provided interface.
+func LoadJsonOrYaml(filename string, addr interface{}) error {
+	file, err := ioutil.ReadFile(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if strings.HasSuffix(filename, "json") {
+		err = json.Unmarshal(file, addr)
+	} else if strings.HasSuffix(filename, "yaml") || strings.HasSuffix(filename, "yml") {
+		err = yaml.Unmarshal(file, addr)
+	} else {
+		return fmt.Errorf("File format not supported. Must be JSON or YAML.")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}