diff --git a/lib/config.js b/lib/config.js
index bc3236a21..f56c99036 100644
--- a/lib/config.js
+++ b/lib/config.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 var fs = require('fs');
-var grunt = require('grunt');
 var merge = require('merge');
 var Plugins = require('./plugins.js');
 var utils = require('./utils.js');
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ Config.prototype.loadChainTrackerFile = function() {
 
 Config.prototype.loadFiles = function(files) {
   var self = this;
-  var originalFiles = grunt.file.expand({nonull: true}, files);
+  var originalFiles = utils.filesMatchinPattern(files);
   var readFiles = [];
 
   // get embark.js object first
@@ -187,7 +186,7 @@ Config.prototype.loadFiles = function(files) {
   }
 
   filesFromPlugins.filter(function(file) {
-    if (grunt.file.isMatch(files, file.intendedPath)) {
+    if (utils.fileMatchesPattern(files, file.intendedPath)) {
       readFiles.push(file);
     }
   });
diff --git a/lib/plugin.js b/lib/plugin.js
index a0e7bab6a..574193114 100644
--- a/lib/plugin.js
+++ b/lib/plugin.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 /*jshint esversion: 6, loopfunc: true */
-var grunt = require('grunt');
 var fs = require('fs');
 var utils = require('./utils.js');
 
@@ -146,7 +145,7 @@ Plugin.prototype.runFilePipeline = function() {
 Plugin.prototype.runPipeline = function(args) {
   // TODO: should iterate the pipelines
   var pipeline = this.pipeline[0];
-  var shouldRunPipeline = grunt.file.isMatch(pipeline.matcthingFiles, args.targetFile);
+  var shouldRunPipeline = utils.fileMatchesPattern(pipeline.matcthingFiles, args.targetFile);
   if (shouldRunPipeline) {
     return pipeline.cb.call(this, args);
   } else {
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index 2228fb395..e5143661a 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 var path = require('path');
+var grunt = require('grunt');
 
 function joinPath() {
   return path.join.apply(path.join, arguments);
 }
 
+function filesMatchinPattern(files) {
+  return grunt.file.expand({nonull: true}, files);
+}
+
+function fileMatchesPattern(patterns, intendedPath) {
+  return grunt.file.isMatch(patterns, intendedPath);
+}
+
 module.exports = {
   joinPath: joinPath
 };