diff --git a/tedana/tests/test_utils.py b/tedana/tests/test_utils.py
index 27174527b..d4e64bee2 100644
--- a/tedana/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tedana/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -123,8 +123,8 @@ def test_load_data():
     # list of filepath to images
     d, ref = utils.load_data(fnames, n_echos=len(tes))
     assert d.shape == exp_shape
-    assert isinstance(ref, str)
-    assert ref == fnames[0]
+    assert isinstance(ref, nib.Nifti1Image)
+    assert np.allclose(ref.get_data(), nib.load(fnames[0]).get_data())
 
     # list of img_like
     d, ref = utils.load_data(fimg, n_echos=len(tes))
diff --git a/tedana/utils/utils.py b/tedana/utils/utils.py
index 11c695174..90303b67a 100644
--- a/tedana/utils/utils.py
+++ b/tedana/utils/utils.py
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ def load_data(data, n_echos=None):
                              '{}'.format(data))
         else:  # individual echo files were provided (surface or volumetric)
             fdata = np.stack([load_image(f) for f in data], axis=1)
-            return np.atleast_3d(fdata), data[0]
+            ref_img = check_niimg(data[0])
+            ref_img.header.extensions = []
+            return np.atleast_3d(fdata), ref_img
 
     img = check_niimg(data)
     (nx, ny), nz = img.shape[:2], img.shape[2] // n_echos