diff --git a/tofu/data/_class08_Diagnostic.py b/tofu/data/_class08_Diagnostic.py
index 89788db8c..a8bc488e0 100644
--- a/tofu/data/_class08_Diagnostic.py
+++ b/tofu/data/_class08_Diagnostic.py
@@ -1478,22 +1478,26 @@ def save_diagnostic_to_file(
     def add_diagnostic_from_file(
         self,
         pfe=None,
+        returnas=False,
     ):
         """ Adds a diagnostic instance (and necessary optics) from json file
 
         Parameters
         ----------
-        pfe : str
+        pfe :     str
             path/file.ext to desired file
+        returnas: bool
+            whether to return the Collection instance
 
         Returns
         -------
-        TYPE
-            DESCRIPTION.
+        coll:    Collection instance
+            optional
 
         """
 
         return _saveload_from_file.load(
             coll=self,
             pfe=pfe,
+            returnas=returnas,
         )
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tofu/data/_class08_loadfromjson.py b/tofu/data/_class08_loadfromjson.py
index 6c5eecd7b..6dfb901d4 100644
--- a/tofu/data/_class08_loadfromjson.py
+++ b/tofu/data/_class08_loadfromjson.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 
 import numpy as np
+import datastock as ds
 
 
 # #################################################################
@@ -24,15 +25,17 @@ def main(
     pfe=None,
     coll=None,
     fname=None,
+    returnas=None,
 ):
 
     # ----------------
     # check inputs
     # --------------
 
-    dout = _check(
+    dout, returnas = _check(
         coll=coll,
         pfe=pfe,
+        returnas=returnas,
     )
 
     # ----------------
@@ -63,7 +66,8 @@ def main(
         din=dout['diagnostic'],
     )
 
-    return coll
+    if returnas is True:
+        return coll
 
 
 # #################################################################
@@ -75,6 +79,7 @@ def main(
 def _check(
     coll=None,
     pfe=None,
+    returnas=None,
 ):
 
     # --------------------
@@ -99,7 +104,17 @@ def _check(
         )
         raise Exception(msg)
 
-    return dout
+    # -------------
+    # returnas
+    # -------------
+
+    returnas = ds._generic_check._check_var(
+        returnas, 'returnas',
+        types=bool,
+        default=True,
+    )
+
+    return dout, returnas
 
 
 # #################################################################
diff --git a/tofu/data/_class08_saveload_from_file.py b/tofu/data/_class08_saveload_from_file.py
index 1357a1dd2..959fc84b6 100644
--- a/tofu/data/_class08_saveload_from_file.py
+++ b/tofu/data/_class08_saveload_from_file.py
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ def save(
 def load(
     pfe=None,
     coll=None,
+    returnas=None,
 ):
 
     # ----------------
@@ -138,6 +139,7 @@ def load(
             coll=coll,
             pfe=pfe,
             fname=fname,
+            returnas=returnas,
         )