diff --git a/pyaml/configuration/fileloader.py b/pyaml/configuration/fileloader.py
index 085af3cd..6df60c1d 100644
--- a/pyaml/configuration/fileloader.py
+++ b/pyaml/configuration/fileloader.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 accepted_suffixes = [".yaml", ".yml", ".json"]
-
+FILE_PREFIX = "file:"
 
 ROOT = {"path": Path.cwd().resolve()}
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def load(
 
 
 # Expand condition
-def hasToExpand(value):
+def hasToLoad(value):
     return isinstance(value, str) and any(
         value.endswith(suffix) for suffix in accepted_suffixes
     )
@@ -105,8 +105,13 @@ def __init__(self, filename: str, parent_path_stack: list[Path]):
     def expand_dict(self, d: dict):
         for key, value in d.items():
             try:
-                if hasToExpand(value):
-                    d[key] = load(value, self.files_stack, self.use_fast_loader)
+                if hasToLoad(value):
+                    if value.startswith(FILE_PREFIX):
+                        # remove prefix
+                        stripped_value = value[len(FILE_PREFIX) :]
+                        d[key] = str(get_root_folder() / Path(stripped_value))
+                    else:
+                        d[key] = load(value, self.files_stack, self.use_fast_loader)
                 else:
                     self.expand(value)
             except PyAMLConfigCyclingException as pyaml_ex:
@@ -127,7 +132,7 @@ def expand_dict(self, d: dict):
     # Recursively expand a list
     def expand_list(self, l: list):
         for idx, value in enumerate(l):
-            if hasToExpand(value):
+            if hasToLoad(value):
                 l[idx] = load(value, self.files_stack)
             else:
                 self.expand(value)
diff --git a/pyaml/tuning_tools/orbit.py b/pyaml/tuning_tools/orbit.py
index 20ea94dd..8c8f8785 100644
--- a/pyaml/tuning_tools/orbit.py
+++ b/pyaml/tuning_tools/orbit.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal, Optional
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal, Optional, Union
 
 try:
     from typing import Self  # Python 3.11+
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     from typing_extensions import Self  # Python 3.10 and earlier
 
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, ConfigDict
+from pydantic import ConfigDict
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from ..common.element_holder import ElementHolder
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 from ..arrays.magnet_array import MagnetArray
 from ..common.element import Element, ElementConfigModel
 from ..common.exception import PyAMLException
+from ..configuration.factory import Factory
+from ..configuration.fileloader import get_path, load
 from ..external.pySC.pySC import ResponseMatrix as pySC_ResponseMatrix
 from ..external.pySC.pySC.apps import orbit_correction
 from ..external.pySC_interface import pySCInterface
@@ -34,21 +36,31 @@ class ConfigModel(ElementConfigModel):
     hcorr_array_name: str
     vcorr_array_name: str
     singular_values: int
-    response_matrix: Optional[ResponseMatrix]
+    response_matrix: Union[str, ResponseMatrix]
 
 
 class Orbit(Element):
     def __init__(self, cfg: ConfigModel):
         super().__init__(cfg.name)
         self._cfg = cfg
-
         self.bpm_array_name = cfg.bpm_array_name
         self.hcorr_array_name = cfg.hcorr_array_name
         self.vcorr_array_name = cfg.vcorr_array_name
         self.singular_values = cfg.singular_values
-        self.response_matrix = pySC_ResponseMatrix.model_validate(
-            cfg.response_matrix._cfg.model_dump()
-        )
+
+        if type(cfg.response_matrix) is str:
+            response_matrix_filename = cfg.response_matrix
+            # assigns self.response_matrix
+            if Path(response_matrix_filename).exists():
+                self.load_response_matrix(response_matrix_filename)
+            else:
+                logger.warning(f"{response_matrix_filename} does not exist.")
+                self.response_matrix = None
+        else:
+            self.response_matrix = pySC_ResponseMatrix.model_validate(
+                cfg.response_matrix._cfg.model_dump()
+            )
+
         self._hcorr: MagnetArray = None
         self._vcorr: MagnetArray = None
         self._hvcorr: MagnetArray = None
@@ -59,6 +71,9 @@ def correct(
         gain: float = 1.0,
         plane: Optional[Literal["H", "V"]] = None,
     ):
+        if self.response_matrix is None:
+            raise PyAMLException(f"{self.get_name()} does not have a response_matrix.")
+
         interface = pySCInterface(
             element_holder=self._peer,
             bpm_array_name=self.bpm_array_name,
@@ -130,3 +145,10 @@ def attach(self, peer: "ElementHolder") -> Self:
         obj = self.__class__(self._cfg)
         obj._peer = peer
         return obj
+
+    def load_response_matrix(self, filename: str) -> None:
+        path = Path(filename)
+        config_dict = load(str(path.resolve()))
+        rm = Factory.depth_first_build(config_dict, ignore_external=False)
+        self.response_matrix = pySC_ResponseMatrix.model_validate(rm._cfg.model_dump())
+        return None
diff --git a/tests/config/EBSOrbit.yaml b/tests/config/EBSOrbit.yaml
index 10d95ba6..2699a112 100644
--- a/tests/config/EBSOrbit.yaml
+++ b/tests/config/EBSOrbit.yaml
@@ -934,7 +934,7 @@ devices:
   vcorr_array_name: VCorr
   name: DEFAULT_ORBIT_CORRECTION
   singular_values: 162
-  response_matrix: ideal_orm_disp.json
+  response_matrix: file:ideal_orm_disp.json
 - type: pyaml.rf.rf_plant
   name: RF
   masterclock: