diff --git a/knit/core.py b/knit/core.py
index a64f1b1..5736202 100644
--- a/knit/core.py
+++ b/knit/core.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import logging
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 
-from .utils import conf_find
+from .utils import parse_xml
 from .env import CondaCreator
 from .compatibility import FileNotFoundError, urlparse
 from .exceptions import HDFSConfigException
@@ -95,16 +95,7 @@ def _yarn_conf(self, autodetect=False):
         yarn_site = os.path.join(confd, 'yarn-site.xml')
         try:
             with open(yarn_site, 'r') as f:
-                url = conf_find(f, 'yarn.resourcemanager.webapp.address')
-                if url:
-                    u = urlparse(url)
-
-                    # handle host:port with no :// preabmle
-                    if u.path == url:
-                        conf['host'], conf['port'] = url.split(':')
-                    else:
-                        conf['host'] = u.hostname
-                        conf['port'] = u.port
+                conf = parse_xml(f, 'yarn.resourcemanager.webapp.address')
         except FileNotFoundError:
             pass
         finally:
@@ -143,16 +134,7 @@ def _hdfs_conf(self, autodetect=False):
 
         try:
             with open(core_site, 'r') as f:
-                url = conf_find(f, 'fs.defaultFS')
-                if url:
-                    u = urlparse(url)
-
-                    # handle host:port with no :// preabmle
-                    if u.path == url:
-                        conf['host'], conf['port'] = url.split(':')
-                    else:
-                        conf['host'] = u.hostname
-                        conf['port'] = u.port
+                conf = parse_xml(core_site, 'fs.defaultFS')
         except FileNotFoundError:
             pass
 
diff --git a/knit/tests/test_utils.py b/knit/tests/test_utils.py
index 17e7cc4..297b165 100644
--- a/knit/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/knit/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 import os
 import logging
-from lxml import etree
 
-from knit.utils import conf_find, set_logging
-from knit.exceptions import HDFSConfigException
+from knit.utils import conf_find, set_logging, parse_xml
 
 cur_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 core_site = os.path.join(cur_dir, 'files', 'core-site.xml')
+yarn_site = os.path.join(cur_dir, 'files', 'yarn-site.xml')
 
 def check_docker():
     """check if inside docker container"""
@@ -18,6 +17,8 @@ def check_docker():
 def test_conf_parse():
     assert 'hdfs://knit-host:9000' == conf_find(core_site, 'fs.defaultFS')
     assert '' == conf_find(core_site, 'FOO/BAR')
+    conf = parse_xml(yarn_site, 'yarn.resourcemanager.webapp.address')
+    assert conf == {'port': '8088', 'host': 'knit-host'}
 
 
 def test_set_logging():
diff --git a/knit/utils.py b/knit/utils.py
index 84ff5cb..bbc3913 100644
--- a/knit/utils.py
+++ b/knit/utils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from lxml import etree
 
-from .compatibility import FileNotFoundError, urlparse
+from .compatibility import urlparse
 
 format = ('%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s')
 logging.basicConfig(format=format, level=logging.INFO)
@@ -17,6 +17,21 @@ def set_logging(level):
     logger.setLevel(level)
 
 
+def parse_xml(f, search_string=''):
+    conf = {}
+    url = conf_find(f, search_string)
+    if url:
+        u = urlparse(url)
+
+        # handle host:port with no :// preabmle
+        if u.path == url:
+            conf['host'], conf['port'] = url.split(':')
+        else:
+            conf['host'] = u.hostname
+            conf['port'] = u.port
+    return conf
+
+
 def conf_find(fp='', name=''):
     """
     Utility function to help parse hadoop configuration files.