diff --git a/src/base/global.cpp b/src/base/global.cpp
index 60fbd8b21..8a69568cc 100644
--- a/src/base/global.cpp
+++ b/src/base/global.cpp
@@ -231,6 +231,22 @@ XML_Node* get_XML_Node(const std::string& file_ID, XML_Node* root)
                                           "no file name given. file_ID = "+file_ID);
         db = root->findID(idstr, 3);
     } else {
+        try {
+            findInputFile(fname);
+        } catch (CanteraError& err) {
+            // See if the input file can be found with a different format
+            if (fname.rfind(".xml") == fname.size() - 4) {
+                fname.replace(fname.size() - 3, 3, "cti");
+            } else if (fname.rfind(".cti") == fname.size() - 4) {
+                fname.replace(fname.size() - 3, 3, "xml");
+            }
+            try {
+                findInputFile(fname);
+            } catch (CanteraError& err2) {
+                // rethrow the original error, which indicates the given file name
+                throw err;
+            }
+        }
         doc = get_XML_File(fname);
         if (!doc) throw CanteraError("get_XML_Node",
                                          "get_XML_File failed trying to open "+fname);