diff --git a/src/pineko/configs.py b/src/pineko/configs.py
index 90eec3a4..d92572b0 100644
--- a/src/pineko/configs.py
+++ b/src/pineko/configs.py
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@
 configs = {}
 "Holds loaded configurations"
 
+THEORY_PATH_KEY = "theory_cards"
 NEEDED_KEYS = [
     "operator_cards",
     "grids",
     "operator_card_template_name",
-    "theory_cards",
+    THEORY_PATH_KEY,
     "fktables",
     "ekos",
 ]
@@ -65,11 +66,17 @@ def enhance_paths(configs_):
     if generic_options.get("nnpdf", False):
         # Fail as soon as possible
         try:
-            import validphys
+            import nnpdf_data
         except ModuleNotFoundError:
             raise ModuleNotFoundError(
                 "Cannot use `nnpdf=True` without a valid installation of NNPDF"
             )
+        # If ``nnpdf_data`` is available, then override also the theory path
+        # UNLESS the debug-option ``nnpdf_theory`` is set explicitly to false!
+        if generic_options.get("nnpdf_theory", True):
+            from nnpdf_data import theory_cards
+
+            configs_["paths"][THEORY_PATH_KEY] = theory_cards
     else:
         required_keys.append("ymldb")
 
diff --git a/src/pineko/theory_card.py b/src/pineko/theory_card.py
index 931a29fc..88be852f 100644
--- a/src/pineko/theory_card.py
+++ b/src/pineko/theory_card.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import yaml
 
 from . import configs
+from .utils import load_nnpdf_theory
 
 
 def path(theory_id: int) -> pathlib.Path:
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ def path(theory_id: int) -> pathlib.Path:
         theory card path
 
     """
-    return configs.configs["paths"]["theory_cards"] / f"{theory_id}.yaml"
+    return configs.configs["paths"][configs.THEORY_PATH_KEY] / f"{theory_id}.yaml"
 
 
 def load(theory_id: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
@@ -39,6 +40,10 @@ def load(theory_id: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         theory card
 
     """
+    nnpdf_theory = load_nnpdf_theory(theory_id, configs.configs)
+    if nnpdf_theory is not None:
+        return nnpdf_theory
+
     with open(path(theory_id), encoding="utf-8") as f:
         theory_card = yaml.safe_load(f)
     return theory_card
diff --git a/src/pineko/utils.py b/src/pineko/utils.py
index f40f2919..66076ee7 100644
--- a/src/pineko/utils.py
+++ b/src/pineko/utils.py
@@ -3,7 +3,14 @@
 Common tools typically used by several pineko functions.
 """
 
-from .configs import GENERIC_OPTIONS
+from .configs import GENERIC_OPTIONS, THEORY_PATH_KEY
+
+
+def _nnpdf_enabled(configs):
+    """Check whether NNPDF is enabled."""
+    if configs is None:
+        return True
+    return configs.get(GENERIC_OPTIONS, {}).get("nnpdf", False)
 
 
 def read_grids_from_nnpdf(dataset_name, configs=None):
@@ -18,9 +25,8 @@ def read_grids_from_nnpdf(dataset_name, configs=None):
             dictionary of configuration options
             if None it it assumed that the NNPDF version is required
     """
-    if configs is not None:
-        if not configs.get(GENERIC_OPTIONS, {}).get("nnpdf", False):
-            return None
+    if not _nnpdf_enabled(configs):
+        return None
 
     # Import NNPDF only if we really want it!
     from nnpdf_data import legacy_to_new_map
@@ -33,3 +39,23 @@ def read_grids_from_nnpdf(dataset_name, configs=None):
     fks = cd.metadata.theory.FK_tables
     # Return it flat
     return [f"{i}.{EXT}" for operand in fks for i in operand]
+
+
+def load_nnpdf_theory(theory_id, configs):
+    """Load a theory using the NNPDF data utilities.
+
+    If NNPDF is not available, returns None.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+        theory_id: int
+        configs: dict
+            dictionary of configuration options
+    """
+    if not _nnpdf_enabled(configs):
+        return None
+
+    from nnpdf_data.theorydbutils import fetch_theory
+
+    theory_path = configs["paths"][THEORY_PATH_KEY]
+    return fetch_theory(theory_path, theory_id)