diff --git a/nvflare/lighter/provision.py b/nvflare/lighter/provision.py
index a00009039..34a420a2b 100644
--- a/nvflare/lighter/provision.py
+++ b/nvflare/lighter/provision.py
@@ -21,10 +21,9 @@ import shutil
 import sys
 import webbrowser
 
-import yaml
-
 from nvflare.fuel.utils.class_utils import instantiate_class
 from nvflare.lighter.spec import Participant, Project, Provisioner
+from nvflare.lighter.utils import load_yaml
 
 
 def main():
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ def main():
     project_full_path = os.path.join(current_path, project_file)
     print(f"Project yaml file: {project_full_path}.")
 
-    project_dict = yaml.load(open(project_full_path, "r"), Loader=yaml.Loader)
+    project_dict = load_yaml(project_full_path)
     api_version = project_dict.get("api_version")
     if api_version not in [3]:
         raise ValueError(f"API version expected 3 but found {api_version}")
diff --git a/nvflare/lighter/utils.py b/nvflare/lighter/utils.py
index 561bd3e0e..05f10b595 100644
--- a/nvflare/lighter/utils.py
+++ b/nvflare/lighter/utils.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def sign_all(content_folder, signing_pri_key):
 
 
 def load_yaml(file_name):
-    return yaml.load(open(file_name, "r"), Loader=yaml.Loader)
+    return yaml.safe_load(open(file_name, "r"))
 
 
 def sh_replace(src, mapping_dict):