diff --git a/pyiron_atomistics/atomistics/job/potentials.py b/pyiron_atomistics/atomistics/job/potentials.py
index ab499d4f4..34fb38c97 100644
--- a/pyiron_atomistics/atomistics/job/potentials.py
+++ b/pyiron_atomistics/atomistics/job/potentials.py
@@ -154,8 +154,13 @@ def read_csv(path):
                 },
             )
 
-        files = cls._get_resolver().search(file_name_lst)
-        return pandas.concat(map(read_csv, files), ignore_index=True)
+        files = cls._get_resolver().list(file_name_lst)
+        if len(files) > 0:
+            return pandas.concat(map(read_csv, files), ignore_index=True)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Was not able to locate the potential files in {cls._get_resolver()}!"
+            )
 
     @classmethod
     def _get_potential_default_df(