diff --git a/newa/__init__.py b/newa/__init__.py
index 3d2ed88..4ccc99c 100644
--- a/newa/__init__.py
+++ b/newa/__init__.py
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ def load_data_from_location(location: str,
             else:
                 stack = [location]
             data: dict[str, Any] = {}
-            if location.startswith('https://'):
+            if re.search('^https?://', location):
                 data = yaml_parser().load(get_request(
                     url=location,
                     response_content=ResponseContentType.TEXT))
diff --git a/newa/cli.py b/newa/cli.py
index 446a194..df6ec87 100644
--- a/newa/cli.py
+++ b/newa/cli.py
@@ -487,7 +487,10 @@ def cmd_schedule(ctx: CLIContext, arch: str) -> None:
                                                   environment=ctx.cli_environment,
                                                   context=ctx.cli_context)
 
-        config = RecipeConfig.from_yaml_url(jira_job.recipe.url)
+        if re.search('^https?://', jira_job.recipe.url):
+            config = RecipeConfig.from_yaml_url(jira_job.recipe.url)
+        else:
+            config = RecipeConfig.from_yaml_file(Path(jira_job.recipe.url))
         # extend dimensions with system architecture but do not override existing settings
         if 'arch' not in config.dimensions:
             config.dimensions['arch'] = []