diff --git a/Interlace/lib/core/input.py b/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
index 0eb096b..c058750 100644
--- a/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
+++ b/Interlace/lib/core/input.py
@@ -252,8 +252,9 @@ class InputHelper(object):
             ranges.add(arguments.target)
         else:
             target_file = arguments.target_list
-            if not sys.stdin.isatty():
-                target_file = sys.stdin
+            if not os.path.exists(target_file):
+                if not sys.stdin.isatty():
+                    target_file = sys.stdin
             ranges.update([target.strip() for target in target_file if target.strip()])
 
         # process exclusions first