diff --git a/lib/python/qmk/cli/license_check.py b/lib/python/qmk/cli/license_check.py
index 4bda272ec9b..119a228c6d4 100644
--- a/lib/python/qmk/cli/license_check.py
+++ b/lib/python/qmk/cli/license_check.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright 2023 Nick Brassel (@tzarc)
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 import re
-from pathlib import Path
 from milc import cli
 from qmk.constants import LICENSE_TEXTS
+from qmk.path import normpath
 
 L_PAREN = re.compile(r'\(\[\{\<')
 R_PAREN = re.compile(r'\)\]\}\>')
@@ -27,7 +27,45 @@ def _simplify_text(input):
     return ' '.join(lines)
 
 
-def _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=False):
+def _preformat_license_texts():
+    # Pre-format all the licenses
+    for _, long_licenses in LICENSE_TEXTS:
+        for i in range(len(long_licenses)):
+            long_licenses[i] = _simplify_text(long_licenses[i])
+
+
+def _determine_suffix_condition(extensions):
+    def _default_suffix_condition(s):
+        return s in SUFFIXES
+
+    conditional = _default_suffix_condition
+
+    if extensions is not None and len(extensions) > 0:
+        suffixes = [f'.{s}' if not s.startswith('.') else s for s in extensions]
+
+        def _specific_suffix_condition(s):
+            return s in suffixes
+
+        conditional = _specific_suffix_condition
+
+    return conditional
+
+
+def _determine_file_list(inputs, conditional):
+    check_list = set()
+    for filename in inputs:
+        if filename.is_dir():
+            for file in sorted(filename.rglob('*')):
+                if file.is_file() and conditional(file.suffix):
+                    check_list.add(file)
+        elif filename.is_file():
+            if conditional(filename.suffix):
+                check_list.add(filename)
+
+    return list(sorted(check_list))
+
+
+def _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=False, short=False):
     data = filename.read_text(encoding='utf-8', errors='ignore')
     filename_out = str(filename.absolute()) if absolute else str(filename)
 
@@ -42,13 +80,13 @@ def _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=False):
                 break
 
         if not found:
-            if cli.args.short:
+            if short:
                 print(f'{filename_out} UNKNOWN')
             else:
                 cli.log.error(f'{{fg_cyan}}{filename_out}{{fg_reset}} -- unknown license, or no license detected!')
             return False
 
-        if cli.args.short:
+        if short:
             print(f'{filename_out} {license}')
         else:
             cli.log.info(f'{{fg_cyan}}{filename_out}{{fg_reset}} -- license detected: {license} (SPDX License Identifier)')
@@ -59,13 +97,13 @@ def _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=False):
         for short_license, long_licenses in LICENSE_TEXTS:
             for long_license in long_licenses:
                 if long_license in simple_text:
-                    if cli.args.short:
+                    if short:
                         print(f'{filename_out} {short_license}')
                     else:
                         cli.log.info(f'{{fg_cyan}}{filename_out}{{fg_reset}} -- license detected: {short_license} (Full text)')
                     return True
 
-        if cli.args.short:
+        if short:
             print(f'{filename_out} UNKNOWN')
         else:
             cli.log.error(f'{{fg_cyan}}{filename_out}{{fg_reset}} -- unknown license, or no license detected!')
@@ -73,43 +111,20 @@ def _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=False):
     return False
 
 
-@cli.argument('inputs', nargs='*', arg_only=True, type=Path, help='List of input files or directories.')
+@cli.argument('inputs', nargs='*', arg_only=True, type=normpath, help='List of input files or directories.')
 @cli.argument('-s', '--short', action='store_true', help='Short output.')
 @cli.argument('-a', '--absolute', action='store_true', help='Print absolute paths.')
 @cli.argument('-e', '--extension', arg_only=True, action='append', default=[], help='Override list of extensions. Can be specified multiple times for multiple extensions.')
 @cli.subcommand('File license check.', hidden=False if cli.config.user.developer else True)
 def license_check(cli):
-    def _default_suffix_condition(s):
-        return s in SUFFIXES
+    _preformat_license_texts()
 
-    conditional = _default_suffix_condition
-
-    if len(cli.args.extension) > 0:
-        suffixes = [f'.{s}' if not s.startswith('.') else s for s in cli.args.extension]
-
-        def _specific_suffix_condition(s):
-            return s in suffixes
-
-        conditional = _specific_suffix_condition
-
-    # Pre-format all the licenses
-    for _, long_licenses in LICENSE_TEXTS:
-        for i in range(len(long_licenses)):
-            long_licenses[i] = _simplify_text(long_licenses[i])
-
-    check_list = set()
-    for filename in sorted(cli.args.inputs):
-        if filename.is_dir():
-            for file in sorted(filename.rglob('*')):
-                if file.is_file() and conditional(file.suffix):
-                    check_list.add(file)
-        elif filename.is_file():
-            if conditional(filename.suffix):
-                check_list.add(filename)
+    conditional = _determine_suffix_condition(cli.args.extension)
+    check_list = _determine_file_list(cli.args.inputs, conditional)
 
     failed = False
     for filename in sorted(check_list):
-        if not _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=cli.args.absolute):
+        if not _detect_license_from_file_contents(filename, absolute=cli.args.absolute, short=cli.args.short):
             failed = True
 
     if failed: