diff --git a/src/yadage/creators.py b/src/yadage/creators.py
index 19834be..260608e 100644
--- a/src/yadage/creators.py
+++ b/src/yadage/creators.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 from .controllers import setup_controller
 from .wflow import YadageWorkflow
 
+from yadage.utils import coerce_data_arg
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 handlers, creator = handler_decorator()
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ def local_workflows(
 
     prepares initial workflow object and returns controller
     """
+    dataarg = coerce_data_arg(dataarg)
     rootprovider = state_provider_from_string(dataarg, dataopts)
 
     if not workflow_json and not workflow:
diff --git a/src/yadage/state_providers/__init__.py b/src/yadage/state_providers/__init__.py
index 9a2a668..a4d0575 100644
--- a/src/yadage/state_providers/__init__.py
+++ b/src/yadage/state_providers/__init__.py
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ def fromenv_provider(dataarg, dataopts):
 
 
 def state_provider_from_string(dataarg, dataopts=None):
-    dataarg = coerce_data_arg(dataarg)
     dataopts = dataopts or {}
     for k in providersetup_handlers.keys():
         if dataarg.startswith(k):