diff --git a/httprunner/loader.py b/httprunner/loader.py
index 6e897d75..0ea7e2db 100644
--- a/httprunner/loader.py
+++ b/httprunner/loader.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import json
 import os
 
 import yaml
-from httprunner import exceptions, logger, parser, utils
+from httprunner import exceptions, logger, parser, utils, validator
 
 ###############################################################################
 ##   file loader
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ def load_testcases(path):
             testcases_list = []
 
     else:
-        err_msg = "file not found: {}".format(path)
+        err_msg = "path not exist: {}".format(path)
         logger.log_error(err_msg)
         raise exceptions.FileNotFound(err_msg)
 
@@ -412,5 +412,8 @@ def load(path):
     @param (str) path: testcase file/folder path
     @return (list) testcases list
     """
+    if validator.is_testcases(path):
+        return path
+
     _load_test_dependencies()
     return load_testcases(path)
diff --git a/httprunner/task.py b/httprunner/task.py
index b1aab280..964adcbb 100644
--- a/httprunner/task.py
+++ b/httprunner/task.py
@@ -177,10 +177,7 @@ def init_test_suites(path_or_testsets, mapping=None, http_client_session=None):
         mapping (dict):
             passed in variables mapping, it will override variables in config block
     """
-    if not testcase.is_testsets(path_or_testsets):
-        testsets = loader.load(path_or_testsets)
-    else:
-        testsets = path_or_testsets
+    testsets = loader.load(path_or_testsets)
 
     # TODO: move comparator uniform here
     mapping = mapping or {}
diff --git a/httprunner/testcase.py b/httprunner/testcase.py
index f50c7058..b3f7ba8e 100644
--- a/httprunner/testcase.py
+++ b/httprunner/testcase.py
@@ -32,47 +32,6 @@ def extract_functions(content):
         return []
 
 
-def is_testset(data_structure):
-    """ check if data_structure is a testset
-    testset should always be in the following data structure:
-        {
-            "name": "desc1",
-            "config": {},
-            "api": {},
-            "testcases": [testcase11, testcase12]
-        }
-    """
-    if not isinstance(data_structure, dict):
-        return False
-
-    if "name" not in data_structure or "testcases" not in data_structure:
-        return False
-
-    if not isinstance(data_structure["testcases"], list):
-        return False
-
-    return True
-
-def is_testsets(data_structure):
-    """ check if data_structure is testset or testsets
-    testsets should always be in the following data structure:
-        testset_dict
-        or
-        [
-            testset_dict_1,
-            testset_dict_2
-        ]
-    """
-    if not isinstance(data_structure, list):
-        return is_testset(data_structure)
-
-    for item in data_structure:
-        if not is_testset(item):
-            return False
-
-    return True
-
-
 def gen_cartesian_product(*args):
     """ generate cartesian product for lists
     @param
diff --git a/httprunner/validator.py b/httprunner/validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0dbf0cb0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/httprunner/validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# encoding: utf-8
+
+""" validate data format
+TODO: refactor with JSON schema validate
+"""
+
+def is_testcase(data_structure):
+    """ check if data_structure is a testcase
+    testcase should always be in the following data structure:
+        {
+            "name": "desc1",
+            "config": {},
+            "api": {},
+            "testcases": [testcase11, testcase12]
+        }
+    """
+    if not isinstance(data_structure, dict):
+        return False
+
+    if "name" not in data_structure or "testcases" not in data_structure:
+        return False
+
+    if not isinstance(data_structure["testcases"], list):
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+def is_testcases(data_structure):
+    """ check if data_structure is testcase or testcases list
+    testsets should always be in the following data structure:
+        testset_dict
+        or
+        [
+            testset_dict_1,
+            testset_dict_2
+        ]
+    """
+    if not isinstance(data_structure, list):
+        return is_testcase(data_structure)
+
+    for item in data_structure:
+        if not is_testcase(item):
+            return False
+
+    return True
diff --git a/tests/test_testcase.py b/tests/test_testcase.py
index c16583e2..f39f8f55 100644
--- a/tests/test_testcase.py
+++ b/tests/test_testcase.py
@@ -368,32 +368,3 @@ class TestcaseParserUnittest(unittest.TestCase):
             parsed_testcase["headers"]["sum"],
             3
         )
-
-    def test_is_testsets(self):
-        data_structure = "path/to/file"
-        self.assertFalse(testcase.is_testsets(data_structure))
-        data_structure = ["path/to/file1", "path/to/file2"]
-        self.assertFalse(testcase.is_testsets(data_structure))
-
-        data_structure = {
-            "name": "desc1",
-            "config": {},
-            "api": {},
-            "testcases": ["testcase11", "testcase12"]
-        }
-        self.assertTrue(data_structure)
-        data_structure = [
-            {
-                "name": "desc1",
-                "config": {},
-                "api": {},
-                "testcases": ["testcase11", "testcase12"]
-            },
-            {
-                "name": "desc2",
-                "config": {},
-                "api": {},
-                "testcases": ["testcase21", "testcase22"]
-            }
-        ]
-        self.assertTrue(data_structure)
diff --git a/tests/test_validator.py b/tests/test_validator.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5e1822da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_validator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import unittest
+
+from httprunner import validator
+
+
+class TestValidator(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_is_testcases(self):
+        data_structure = "path/to/file"
+        self.assertFalse(validator.is_testcases(data_structure))
+        data_structure = ["path/to/file1", "path/to/file2"]
+        self.assertFalse(validator.is_testcases(data_structure))
+
+        data_structure = {
+            "name": "desc1",
+            "config": {},
+            "api": {},
+            "testcases": ["testcase11", "testcase12"]
+        }
+        self.assertTrue(data_structure)
+        data_structure = [
+            {
+                "name": "desc1",
+                "config": {},
+                "api": {},
+                "testcases": ["testcase11", "testcase12"]
+            },
+            {
+                "name": "desc2",
+                "config": {},
+                "api": {},
+                "testcases": ["testcase21", "testcase22"]
+            }
+        ]
+        self.assertTrue(data_structure)