diff --git a/entropy/__main__.py b/entropy/__main__.py
index cd641da..b310874 100644
--- a/entropy/__main__.py
+++ b/entropy/__main__.py
@@ -103,13 +103,7 @@ def start_engine(args):
     }
     utils.write_yaml(cfg, engine_cfg)
     # create cfg files
-    for filename in ['audit_cfg', 'repair_cfg']:
-        try:
-            with open(cfg_data[filename]):
-                pass
-        except IOError:
-            with open(cfg_data[filename], 'a'):
-                pass
+    utils.create_files([cfg_data['audit_cfg'], cfg_data['repair_cfg']])
     LOG.info('Added %s to engine cfg', args.name)
     entropy_engine = Engine(args.name, **cfg_data)
     entropy_engine.run()
diff --git a/entropy/utils.py b/entropy/utils.py
index c419f50..55f7cf0 100644
--- a/entropy/utils.py
+++ b/entropy/utils.py
@@ -223,3 +223,12 @@ class StopWatch(object):
         self._stopped_at = wallclock()
         self._state = self._STOPPED
         return self
+
+
+def create_files(list_of_files):
+    if not list_of_files:
+        return
+    for filename in list_of_files:
+        if not os.path.isfile(filename):
+            with open(filename, 'w'):
+                pass