diff --git a/fusesoc/capi2/core.py b/fusesoc/capi2/core.py
index 724fd2ee..ecc8d0ab 100644
--- a/fusesoc/capi2/core.py
+++ b/fusesoc/capi2/core.py
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ def get_files(self, flags):
                     if (type(v) == bool and v == True)
                     or (type(v) == str and len(v)) > 0
                     or (type(v) == list and len(v)) > 0
+                    or (type(v) == dict and len(v)) > 0
                 }
 
                 _src_files.append(attributes)
diff --git a/fusesoc/capi2/json_schema.py b/fusesoc/capi2/json_schema.py
index 74ff03fe..abc746c2 100644
--- a/fusesoc/capi2/json_schema.py
+++ b/fusesoc/capi2/json_schema.py
@@ -228,6 +228,25 @@
                         "description": "Path to file",
                         "type": "object",
                         "properties": {
+                          "define": {
+                            "description": "Defines to be used for this file. These defines will be added to those specified in the target parameters section. If a define is specified both here and in the target parameter section, the value specified here will take precedence.  The parameter default value can be set here with ``param=value``",
+                            "type": "object",
+                            "patternProperties": {
+                              "^.+$": {
+                                "anyOf": [
+                                  {
+                                    "type": "string"
+                                  },
+                                  {
+                                    "type": "number"
+                                  },
+                                  {
+                                    "type": "boolean"
+                                  },
+                                ]
+                              }
+                            }
+                          },
                           "is_include_file": {
                             "description": "Treats file as an include file when true",
                             "type": "boolean"
diff --git a/tests/capi2_cores/misc/fileattrs.core b/tests/capi2_cores/misc/fileattrs.core
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..44624545
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/capi2_cores/misc/fileattrs.core
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+CAPI=2:
+
+name : ::fileattrs:0
+
+filesets:
+  defines:
+    files:
+      - hasdefines : {define : {key1 : value1, key2 : value2}}
+      - nodefines
+
+targets:
+  defines: {filesets : [defines]}
diff --git a/tests/test_capi2.py b/tests/test_capi2.py
index 0625dbd3..89ae458d 100644
--- a/tests/test_capi2.py
+++ b/tests/test_capi2.py
@@ -262,6 +262,18 @@ def test_capi2_get_files():
 
     assert expected == result
 
+    core_file = os.path.join(tests_dir, "capi2_cores", "misc", "fileattrs.core")
+    core = Core(Core2Parser(), core_file)
+    flags = {"is_toplevel": True, "target": "defines"}
+    result = core.get_files(flags)
+    expected = [
+        {"name": "hasdefines", "define": {"key1": "value1", "key2": "value2"}},
+        {
+            "name": "nodefines",
+        },
+    ]
+    assert expected == result
+
 
 def test_capi2_type_check():
     from fusesoc.capi2.coreparser import Core2Parser