diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/common.go b/src/pkg/packager/common.go
index e1cbfb0a20..4c603867f7 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/common.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/common.go
@@ -151,17 +151,6 @@ func NewOrDie(config *types.PackagerConfig, mods ...Modifier) *Packager {
 	return pkgr
 }
 
-// setTempDirectory sets the temp directory for the packager.
-func (p *Packager) setTempDirectory(path string) error {
-	dir, err := utils.MakeTempDir(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create package temp paths: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	p.layout = layout.New(dir)
-	return nil
-}
-
 // GetInitPackageName returns the formatted name of the init package.
 func GetInitPackageName(arch string) string {
 	if arch == "" {
@@ -200,6 +189,21 @@ func (p *Packager) ClearTempPaths() {
 	_ = os.RemoveAll(layout.SBOMDir)
 }
 
+// setTempDirectory sets the temp directory for the packager.
+func (p *Packager) setTempDirectory(path string) error {
+	dir, err := utils.MakeTempDir(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to create package temp paths: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	p.layout = layout.New(dir)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (p *Packager) setArch() {
+	p.arch = config.GetArch(p.cfg.Pkg.Metadata.Architecture, p.cfg.Pkg.Build.Architecture)
+}
+
 // connectToCluster attempts to connect to a cluster if a connection is not already established
 func (p *Packager) connectToCluster(timeout time.Duration) (err error) {
 	if p.isConnectedToCluster() {
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/create_stages.go b/src/pkg/packager/create_stages.go
index e21a2343af..b7a2b45039 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/create_stages.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/create_stages.go
@@ -33,12 +33,13 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (p *Packager) load() error {
-	if err := p.readZarfYAML(layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err := utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to read the zarf.yaml file: %s", err.Error())
 	}
 	if p.isInitConfig() {
 		p.cfg.Pkg.Metadata.Version = config.CLIVersion
 	}
+	p.setArch()
 
 	// Compose components into a single zarf.yaml file
 	if err := p.composeComponents(); err != nil {
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/deploy.go b/src/pkg/packager/deploy.go
index 0e8c6e5c99..e7902acdb3 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/deploy.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/deploy.go
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ func (p *Packager) Deploy() (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to load the package: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if err = p.readZarfYAML(p.layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-
+	p.setArch()
 	p.runMigrations()
 
 	if err := p.validateLastNonBreakingVersion(); err != nil {
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/inspect.go b/src/pkg/packager/inspect.go
index 993c9ffeb0..2fa154499c 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/inspect.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/inspect.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package packager
 
 import (
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/internal/packager/sbom"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/layout"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/utils"
 )
 
@@ -17,9 +18,10 @@ func (p *Packager) Inspect() (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err = p.readZarfYAML(p.layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	p.setArch()
 
 	utils.ColorPrintYAML(p.cfg.Pkg, nil, false)
 
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/mirror.go b/src/pkg/packager/mirror.go
index 689ddcfbaa..1d1b06cd2d 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/mirror.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/mirror.go
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/config"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/layout"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/message"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/types"
 )
 
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ func (p *Packager) Mirror() (err error) {
 	if err = p.source.LoadPackage(p.layout, true); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("unable to load the package: %w", err)
 	}
-	if err = p.readZarfYAML(p.layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/prepare.go b/src/pkg/packager/prepare.go
index 3bdde325d9..60b6b32b52 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/prepare.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/prepare.go
@@ -47,9 +47,10 @@ func (p *Packager) FindImages() (imgMap map[string][]string, err error) {
 	}
 	message.Note(fmt.Sprintf("Using build directory %s", p.cfg.CreateOpts.BaseDir))
 
-	if err = p.readZarfYAML(layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to read the zarf.yaml file: %s", err.Error())
 	}
+	p.setArch()
 
 	if err := p.composeComponents(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/publish.go b/src/pkg/packager/publish.go
index 05dcbc4a28..512ac52130 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/publish.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/publish.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/config"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/layout"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/message"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/oci"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/packager/creator"
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func (p *Packager) Publish() (err error) {
 		if err = p.source.LoadPackage(p.layout, false); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unable to load the package: %w", err)
 		}
-		if err = p.readZarfYAML(p.layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+		if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/remove.go b/src/pkg/packager/remove.go
index 2aaee0c3af..a09952ff8e 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/remove.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/remove.go
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/config"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/internal/packager/helm"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/cluster"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/layout"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/message"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/packager/sources"
+	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/pkg/utils/helpers"
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/types"
 	"helm.sh/helm/v3/pkg/storage/driver"
@@ -38,7 +40,7 @@ func (p *Packager) Remove() (err error) {
 	if err = p.source.LoadPackageMetadata(p.layout, false, false); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err = p.readZarfYAML(p.layout.ZarfYAML); err != nil {
+	if err = utils.ReadYaml(layout.ZarfYAML, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	p.filterComponents()
diff --git a/src/pkg/packager/yaml.go b/src/pkg/packager/yaml.go
index 913f17c07c..5a1b4fd462 100644
--- a/src/pkg/packager/yaml.go
+++ b/src/pkg/packager/yaml.go
@@ -16,15 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/defenseunicorns/zarf/src/types"
 )
 
-// readZarfYAML reads a Zarf YAML file.
-func (p *Packager) readZarfYAML(path string) error {
-	if err := utils.ReadYaml(path, &p.cfg.Pkg); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	p.arch = config.GetArch(p.cfg.Pkg.Metadata.Architecture, p.cfg.Pkg.Build.Architecture)
-	return nil
-}
-
 // filterComponents removes components not matching the current OS if filterByOS is set.
 func (p *Packager) filterComponents() {
 	// Filter each component to only compatible platforms.