diff --git a/ldoc.lua b/ldoc.lua
index e51f863..de03faa 100644
--- a/ldoc.lua
+++ b/ldoc.lua
@@ -447,13 +447,22 @@ local function reorder_module_file ()
    end
 end
 
+-- process files, optionally in order that respects master module files
+local function process_all_files(files)
+   local sortfn = reorder_module_file()
+   local files = tools.expand_file_list(files,'*.*')
+   if sortfn then files:sort(sortfn) end
+   for f in files:iter() do
+      process_file(f, file_list)
+   end
+   if #file_list == 0 then quit "no source files found" end
+end
+
 if type(args.file) == 'table' then
-   -- this can only be set from config file so we can assume it's already read
-   args.file.sortfn = reorder_module_file()
-   process_file_list(args.file,'*.*',process_file, file_list)
-   if #file_list == 0 then quit "no source files specified" end
+   -- this can only be set from config file so we can assume config is already read
+   process_all_files(args.file)   
+   
 elseif path.isdir(args.file) then
-   local files = List(dir.getallfiles(args.file,'*.*'))
    -- use any configuration file we find, if not already specified
    if not config_dir then
       local config_files = files:filter(function(f)
@@ -466,16 +475,9 @@ elseif path.isdir(args.file) then
          end
       end
    end
-   -- process files, optionally in order that respects master module files
-   local sortfn = reorder_module_file()
-   if sortfn then files:sort(sortfn) end
-   for f in files:iter() do
-      process_file(f, file_list)
-   end
-
-   if #file_list == 0 then
-      quit(quote(args.file).." contained no source files")
-   end
+   
+   process_all_files({args.file})
+   
 elseif path.isfile(args.file) then
    -- a single file may be accompanied by a config.ld in the same dir
    if not config_dir then
diff --git a/ldoc/tools.lua b/ldoc/tools.lua
index 0de2672..464b148 100644
--- a/ldoc/tools.lua
+++ b/ldoc/tools.lua
@@ -462,7 +462,13 @@ function M.abspath (f)
    return res
 end
 
-function M.process_file_list (list, mask, operation, ...)
+function M.getallfiles(root,mask)
+   local res = List(dir.getallfiles(root,mask))
+   res:sort()
+   return res
+end
+
+function M.expand_file_list (list, mask)
    local exclude_list = list.exclude and M.files_from_list(list.exclude, mask)
    local files = List()
    local function process (f)
@@ -473,7 +479,7 @@ function M.process_file_list (list, mask, operation, ...)
    end
    for _,f in ipairs(list) do
       if path.isdir(f) then
-         local dfiles = List(dir.getallfiles(f,mask))
+         local dfiles = M.getallfiles(f,mask)
          for f in dfiles:iter() do
             process(f)
          end
@@ -483,11 +489,11 @@ function M.process_file_list (list, mask, operation, ...)
          quit("file or directory does not exist: "..M.quote(f))
       end
    end
+   return files
+end
 
-   if list.sortfn then
-      files:sort(list.sortfn)
-   end
-
+function M.process_file_list (list, mask, operation, ...)
+   local files = M.expand_file_list(list,mask)
    for f in files:iter() do
       operation(f,...)
    end