diff --git a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/emoji.ex b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/emoji.ex
index fed3dcb40..9cb6fb88d 100644
--- a/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/emoji.ex
+++ b/lib/mix/tasks/pleroma/emoji.ex
@@ -231,7 +231,13 @@ def run(["gen-pack", src]) do
   end
 
   defp fetch_manifest(from) do
-    Tesla.get!(from).body |> Poison.decode!()
+    Poison.decode!(
+      if String.starts_with?(from, "http") do
+        Tesla.get!(from).body
+      else
+        File.read!(from)
+      end
+    )
   end
 
   defp parse_global_opts(args) do