diff --git a/extras/comparator.py b/extras/comparator.py
index 2abf5cdb6..6d981e493 100644
--- a/extras/comparator.py
+++ b/extras/comparator.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ from crystal import (
     get_label_from_line,
     get_address_from_line_comment,
     AsmSection,
+    direct_load_rom,
+    direct_load_asm,
 )
 
 from romstr import (
@@ -17,22 +19,12 @@ from romstr import (
 def load_rom(path):
     """ Loads a ROM file into an abbreviated RomStr object.
     """
-
-    fh = open(path, "r")
-    x  = RomStr(fh.read())
-    fh.close()
-
-    return x
+    return direct_load_rom(filename=path)
 
 def load_asm(path):
     """ Loads source ASM into an abbreviated AsmList object.
     """
-
-    fh = open(path, "r")
-    x = AsmList(fh.read().split("\n"))
-    fh.close()
-
-    return x
+    return direct_load_asm(filename=path)
 
 def findall_iter(sub, string):
     # url: http://stackoverflow.com/a/3874760/687783
diff --git a/extras/crystal.py b/extras/crystal.py
index 2077c3748..4353ad560 100644
--- a/extras/crystal.py
+++ b/extras/crystal.py
@@ -145,14 +145,18 @@ def load_rom(filename="../baserom.gbc"):
     elif os.lstat(filename).st_size != len(rom):
         return direct_load_rom(filename)
 
-
-def load_asm(filename="../main.asm"):
-    """loads the asm source code into memory"""
-    global asm
+def direct_load_asm(filename="../main.asm"):
+    """returns asm source code (AsmList) from a file"""
     asm = open(filename, "r").read().split("\n")
     asm = AsmList(asm)
     return asm
 
+def load_asm(filename="../main.asm"):
+    """returns asm source code (AsmList) from a file (uses a global)"""
+    global asm
+    asm = direct_load_asm(filename=filename)
+    return asm
+
 def grouper(some_list, count=2):
     """splits a list into sublists
     given: [1, 2, 3, 4]