diff --git a/python/tank/api.py b/python/tank/api.py
index a2cdc0178..21efab685 100644
--- a/python/tank/api.py
+++ b/python/tank/api.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 from .errors import TankError, TankMultipleMatchingTemplatesError
 from .path_cache import PathCache
 from .template import read_templates
+from .templatekey import SequenceKey
 from . import constants
 from . import pipelineconfig
 from . import pipelineconfig_utils
@@ -528,9 +529,12 @@ def paths_from_template(
         :returns: Matching file paths
         :rtype: List of strings.
         """
-        skip_keys = skip_keys or []
         if isinstance(skip_keys, six.string_types):
             skip_keys = [skip_keys]
+        elif isinstance(skip_keys, list):
+            skip_keys = list(skip_keys)
+        else:
+            skip_keys = []
 
         # construct local fields dictionary that doesn't include any skip keys:
         local_fields = dict(
@@ -681,12 +685,25 @@ def abstract_paths_from_template(self, template, fields):
         if skip_leaf_level:
             search_template = template.parent
 
-        # now carry out a regular search based on the template
-        found_files = self.paths_from_template(search_template, fields)
+        st_abstract_keys = [k for k in search_template.keys.values() if k.is_abstract]
+
+        # skip abstract SequenceKey declared as format_spec_format: "FORMAT:"
+        # then we can list properly existing paths
+        skip_keys = []
+        for k in st_abstract_keys:
+            key_name = k.name
+            if key_name not in fields:
+                continue
+            if not isinstance(k, SequenceKey):
+                continue
+            if not k.is_framespec_format(fields[key_name]):
+                continue
+            skip_keys.append(key_name)
 
-        st_abstract_key_names = [
-            k.name for k in search_template.keys.values() if k.is_abstract
-        ]
+        # now carry out a regular search based on the template
+        found_files = self.paths_from_template(
+            search_template, fields, skip_keys=skip_keys
+        )
 
         # now collapse down the search matches for any abstract fields,
         # and add the leaf level if necessary
@@ -703,8 +720,8 @@ def abstract_paths_from_template(self, template, fields):
             # by deleting all eye values they will be replaced by %V
             # as the template is applied.
             #
-            for abstract_key_name in st_abstract_key_names:
-                del cur_fields[abstract_key_name]
+            for abstract_key in st_abstract_keys:
+                del cur_fields[abstract_key.name]
 
             # pass 2 - if we ignored the leaf level, add those fields back
             # note that there is no risk that we add abstract fields at this point
diff --git a/python/tank/templatekey.py b/python/tank/templatekey.py
index 4b48d6e9d..1349788e2 100644
--- a/python/tank/templatekey.py
+++ b/python/tank/templatekey.py
@@ -1112,9 +1112,7 @@ def validate(self, value):
         error_msg += "Valid frame specs: %s\n" % str(self._frame_specs)
         error_msg += "Valid format strings: %s\n" % full_format_strings
 
-        if isinstance(value, six.string_types) and value.startswith(
-            self.FRAMESPEC_FORMAT_INDICATOR
-        ):
+        if self.is_framespec_format(value):
             # FORMAT: YXZ string - check that XYZ is in VALID_FORMAT_STRINGS
             pattern = self._extract_format_string(value)
             if pattern in self.VALID_FORMAT_STRINGS:
@@ -1142,11 +1140,13 @@ def validate(self, value):
         else:
             return super(SequenceKey, self).validate(value)
 
-    def _as_string(self, value):
-
-        if isinstance(value, six.string_types) and value.startswith(
+    def is_framespec_format(self, value):
+        return isinstance(value, six.string_types) and value.startswith(
             self.FRAMESPEC_FORMAT_INDICATOR
-        ):
+        )
+
+    def _as_string(self, value):
+        if self.is_framespec_format(value):
             # this is a FORMAT: XYZ - convert it to the proper resolved frame spec
             pattern = self._extract_format_string(value)
             return self._resolve_frame_spec(pattern, self.format_spec)
@@ -1180,9 +1180,7 @@ def _extract_format_string(self, value):
         """
         Returns XYZ given the string "FORMAT:    XYZ"
         """
-        if isinstance(value, six.string_types) and value.startswith(
-            self.FRAMESPEC_FORMAT_INDICATOR
-        ):
+        if self.is_framespec_format(value):
             pattern = value.replace(self.FRAMESPEC_FORMAT_INDICATOR, "").strip()
         else:
             # passthrough
diff --git a/tests/core_tests/test_api.py b/tests/core_tests/test_api.py
index 9b83e9f98..0f0abf069 100644
--- a/tests/core_tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/core_tests/test_api.py
@@ -365,6 +365,16 @@ def test_specify_name(self):
         )
         self.assertEqual(set(expected), set(result))
 
+    def test_sequence_format(self):
+        expected = [
+            os.path.join(self.shot_a_path, "%V", "filename.$F4.exr"),
+            os.path.join(self.shot_b_path, "%V", "filename.$F4.exr"),
+        ]
+        result = self.tk.abstract_paths_from_template(
+            self.template, {"name": "filename", "SEQ": "FORMAT: $F"}
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(set(expected), set(result))
+
 
 class TestPathsFromTemplateGlob(TankTestBase):
     """Tests for Tank.paths_from_template method which check the string sent to glob.glob."""