diff --git a/tools/binman/README b/tools/binman/README
index df88819a1c3..d60c7fd6a3e 100644
--- a/tools/binman/README
+++ b/tools/binman/README
@@ -615,6 +615,26 @@ each entry is also shown, in bytes (hex). The indentation shows the entries
 nested inside their sections.
 
 
+Passing command-line arguments to entries
+-----------------------------------------
+
+Sometimes it is useful to pass binman the value of an entry property from the
+command line. For example some entries need access to files and it is not
+always convenient to put these filenames in the image definition (device tree).
+
+The-a option supports this:
+
+    -a<prop>=<value>
+
+where
+
+    <prop> is the property to set
+    <value> is the value to set it to
+
+Not all properties can be provided this way. Only some entries support it,
+typically for filenames.
+
+
 Code coverage
 -------------
 
diff --git a/tools/binman/cmdline.py b/tools/binman/cmdline.py
index 5c9b4dfeadc..54e4fb13dc0 100644
--- a/tools/binman/cmdline.py
+++ b/tools/binman/cmdline.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ def ParseArgs(argv):
             args is a list of string arguments
     """
     parser = OptionParser()
+    parser.add_option('-a', '--entry-arg', type='string', action='append',
+            help='Set argument value arg=value')
     parser.add_option('-b', '--board', type='string',
             help='Board name to build')
     parser.add_option('-B', '--build-dir', type='string', default='b',
diff --git a/tools/binman/control.py b/tools/binman/control.py
index 9ac392b7e53..ab894a8aa8d 100644
--- a/tools/binman/control.py
+++ b/tools/binman/control.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 from collections import OrderedDict
 import os
+import re
 import sys
 import tools
 
@@ -25,6 +26,9 @@ images = OrderedDict()
 # 'u-boot-spl.dtb')
 fdt_files = {}
 
+# Arguments passed to binman to provide arguments to entries
+entry_args = {}
+
 
 def _ReadImageDesc(binman_node):
     """Read the image descriptions from the /binman node
@@ -76,6 +80,20 @@ def GetFdt(fname):
 def GetFdtPath(fname):
     return fdt_files[fname]._fname
 
+def SetEntryArgs(args):
+    global entry_args
+
+    entry_args = {}
+    if args:
+        for arg in args:
+            m = re.match('([^=]*)=(.*)', arg)
+            if not m:
+                raise ValueError("Invalid entry arguemnt '%s'" % arg)
+            entry_args[m.group(1)] = m.group(2)
+
+def GetEntryArg(name):
+    return entry_args.get(name)
+
 def Binman(options, args):
     """The main control code for binman
 
@@ -116,6 +134,7 @@ def Binman(options, args):
         try:
             tools.SetInputDirs(options.indir)
             tools.PrepareOutputDir(options.outdir, options.preserve)
+            SetEntryArgs(options.entry_arg)
 
             # Get the device tree ready by compiling it and copying the compiled
             # output into a file in our output directly. Then scan it for use
diff --git a/tools/binman/entry.py b/tools/binman/entry.py
index 8004918eb58..de07f272159 100644
--- a/tools/binman/entry.py
+++ b/tools/binman/entry.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 
+from collections import namedtuple
+
 # importlib was introduced in Python 2.7 but there was a report of it not
 # working in 2.7.12, so we work around this:
 # http://lists.denx.de/pipermail/u-boot/2016-October/269729.html
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ except:
     have_importlib = False
 
 import fdt_util
+import control
 import os
 import sys
 import tools
@@ -24,6 +27,12 @@ modules = {}
 
 our_path = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
 
+
+# An argument which can be passed to entries on the command line, in lieu of
+# device-tree properties.
+EntryArg = namedtuple('EntryArg', ['name', 'datatype'])
+
+
 class Entry(object):
     """An Entry in the section
 
@@ -249,6 +258,33 @@ class Entry(object):
         """Convenience function to raise an error referencing a node"""
         raise ValueError("Node '%s': %s" % (self._node.path, msg))
 
+    def GetEntryArgsOrProps(self, props, required=False):
+        """Return the values of a set of properties
+
+        Args:
+            props: List of EntryArg objects
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError if a property is not found
+        """
+        values = []
+        missing = []
+        for prop in props:
+            python_prop = prop.name.replace('-', '_')
+            if hasattr(self, python_prop):
+                value = getattr(self, python_prop)
+            else:
+                value = None
+            if value is None:
+                value = self.GetArg(prop.name, prop.datatype)
+            if value is None and required:
+                missing.append(prop.name)
+            values.append(value)
+        if missing:
+            self.Raise('Missing required properties/entry args: %s' %
+                       (', '.join(missing)))
+        return values
+
     def GetPath(self):
         """Get the path of a node
 
@@ -307,3 +343,36 @@ class Entry(object):
             indent: Curent indent level of map (0=none, 1=one level, etc.)
         """
         self.WriteMapLine(fd, indent, self.name, self.offset, self.size)
+
+    def GetArg(self, name, datatype=str):
+        """Get the value of an entry argument or device-tree-node property
+
+        Some node properties can be provided as arguments to binman. First check
+        the entry arguments, and fall back to the device tree if not found
+
+        Args:
+            name: Argument name
+            datatype: Data type (str or int)
+
+        Returns:
+            Value of argument as a string or int, or None if no value
+
+        Raises:
+            ValueError if the argument cannot be converted to in
+        """
+        value = control.GetEntryArg(name)
+        if value is not None:
+            if datatype == int:
+                try:
+                    value = int(value)
+                except ValueError:
+                    self.Raise("Cannot convert entry arg '%s' (value '%s') to integer" %
+                               (name, value))
+            elif datatype == str:
+                pass
+            else:
+                raise ValueError("GetArg() internal error: Unknown data type '%s'" %
+                                 datatype)
+        else:
+            value = fdt_util.GetDatatype(self._node, name, datatype)
+        return value
diff --git a/tools/binman/etype/_testing.py b/tools/binman/etype/_testing.py
index 31f625c026c..3eeec72b360 100644
--- a/tools/binman/etype/_testing.py
+++ b/tools/binman/etype/_testing.py
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 # Entry-type module for testing purposes. Not used in real images.
 #
 
-from entry import Entry
+from collections import OrderedDict
+
+from entry import Entry, EntryArg
 import fdt_util
 import tools
 
@@ -27,6 +29,21 @@ class Entry__testing(Entry):
         self.process_fdt_ready = False
         self.never_complete_process_fdt = fdt_util.GetBool(self._node,
                                                 'never-complete-process-fdt')
+        self.require_args = fdt_util.GetBool(self._node, 'require-args')
+
+        # This should be picked up by GetEntryArgsOrProps()
+        self.test_existing_prop = 'existing'
+        self.force_bad_datatype = fdt_util.GetBool(self._node,
+                                                   'force-bad-datatype')
+        (self.test_str_fdt, self.test_str_arg, self.test_int_fdt,
+         self.test_int_arg, existing) = self.GetEntryArgsOrProps([
+            EntryArg('test-str-fdt', str),
+            EntryArg('test-str-arg', str),
+            EntryArg('test-int-fdt', int),
+            EntryArg('test-int-arg', int),
+            EntryArg('test-existing-prop', str)], self.require_args)
+        if self.force_bad_datatype:
+            self.GetEntryArgsOrProps([EntryArg('test-bad-datatype-arg', bool)])
 
     def ObtainContents(self):
         if self.return_unknown_contents:
diff --git a/tools/binman/ftest.py b/tools/binman/ftest.py
index 94a50aac166..c54cd12e717 100644
--- a/tools/binman/ftest.py
+++ b/tools/binman/ftest.py
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
         # options.verbosity = tout.DEBUG
         return control.Binman(options, args)
 
-    def _DoTestFile(self, fname, debug=False, map=False, update_dtb=False):
+    def _DoTestFile(self, fname, debug=False, map=False, update_dtb=False,
+                    entry_args=None):
         """Run binman with a given test file
 
         Args:
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
             args.append('-m')
         if update_dtb:
             args.append('-up')
+        if entry_args:
+            for arg, value in entry_args.iteritems():
+                args.append('-a%s=%s' % (arg, value))
         return self._DoBinman(*args)
 
     def _SetupDtb(self, fname, outfile='u-boot.dtb'):
@@ -188,7 +192,7 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
             return data
 
     def _DoReadFileDtb(self, fname, use_real_dtb=False, map=False,
-                       update_dtb=False):
+                       update_dtb=False, entry_args=None):
         """Run binman and return the resulting image
 
         This runs binman with a given test file and then reads the resulting
@@ -220,7 +224,8 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
             dtb_data = self._SetupDtb(fname)
 
         try:
-            retcode = self._DoTestFile(fname, map=map, update_dtb=update_dtb)
+            retcode = self._DoTestFile(fname, map=map, update_dtb=update_dtb,
+                                       entry_args=entry_args)
             self.assertEqual(0, retcode)
             out_dtb_fname = control.GetFdtPath('u-boot.dtb')
 
@@ -1085,5 +1090,77 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('Could not complete processing of Fdt: remaining '
                       '[<_testing.Entry__testing', str(e.exception))
 
+    def testEntryArgs(self):
+        """Test passing arguments to entries from the command line"""
+        entry_args = {
+            'test-str-arg': 'test1',
+            'test-int-arg': '456',
+        }
+        self._DoReadFileDtb('62_entry_args.dts', entry_args=entry_args)
+        self.assertIn('image', control.images)
+        entry = control.images['image'].GetEntries()['_testing']
+        self.assertEqual('test0', entry.test_str_fdt)
+        self.assertEqual('test1', entry.test_str_arg)
+        self.assertEqual(123, entry.test_int_fdt)
+        self.assertEqual(456, entry.test_int_arg)
+
+    def testEntryArgsMissing(self):
+        """Test missing arguments and properties"""
+        entry_args = {
+            'test-int-arg': '456',
+        }
+        self._DoReadFileDtb('63_entry_args_missing.dts', entry_args=entry_args)
+        entry = control.images['image'].GetEntries()['_testing']
+        self.assertEqual('test0', entry.test_str_fdt)
+        self.assertEqual(None, entry.test_str_arg)
+        self.assertEqual(None, entry.test_int_fdt)
+        self.assertEqual(456, entry.test_int_arg)
+
+    def testEntryArgsRequired(self):
+        """Test missing arguments and properties"""
+        entry_args = {
+            'test-int-arg': '456',
+        }
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            self._DoReadFileDtb('64_entry_args_required.dts')
+        self.assertIn("Node '/binman/_testing': Missing required "
+            'properties/entry args: test-str-arg, test-int-fdt, test-int-arg',
+            str(e.exception))
+
+    def testEntryArgsInvalidFormat(self):
+        """Test that an invalid entry-argument format is detected"""
+        args = ['-d', self.TestFile('64_entry_args_required.dts'), '-ano-value']
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            self._DoBinman(*args)
+        self.assertIn("Invalid entry arguemnt 'no-value'", str(e.exception))
+
+    def testEntryArgsInvalidInteger(self):
+        """Test that an invalid entry-argument integer is detected"""
+        entry_args = {
+            'test-int-arg': 'abc',
+        }
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            self._DoReadFileDtb('62_entry_args.dts', entry_args=entry_args)
+        self.assertIn("Node '/binman/_testing': Cannot convert entry arg "
+                      "'test-int-arg' (value 'abc') to integer",
+            str(e.exception))
+
+    def testEntryArgsInvalidDatatype(self):
+        """Test that an invalid entry-argument datatype is detected
+
+        This test could be written in entry_test.py except that it needs
+        access to control.entry_args, which seems more than that module should
+        be able to see.
+        """
+        entry_args = {
+            'test-bad-datatype-arg': '12',
+        }
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            self._DoReadFileDtb('65_entry_args_unknown_datatype.dts',
+                                entry_args=entry_args)
+        self.assertIn('GetArg() internal error: Unknown data type ',
+                      str(e.exception))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/62_entry_args.dts b/tools/binman/test/62_entry_args.dts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4d4f102d60c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/test/62_entry_args.dts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+	#address-cells = <1>;
+	#size-cells = <1>;
+
+	binman {
+		_testing {
+			test-str-fdt = "test0";
+			test-int-fdt = <123>;
+		};
+	};
+};
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/63_entry_args_missing.dts b/tools/binman/test/63_entry_args_missing.dts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1644e2fef3a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/test/63_entry_args_missing.dts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+	#address-cells = <1>;
+	#size-cells = <1>;
+
+	binman {
+		_testing {
+			test-str-fdt = "test0";
+		};
+	};
+};
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/64_entry_args_required.dts b/tools/binman/test/64_entry_args_required.dts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..705be100691
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/test/64_entry_args_required.dts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+	#address-cells = <1>;
+	#size-cells = <1>;
+
+	binman {
+		_testing {
+			require-args;
+			test-str-fdt = "test0";
+		};
+	};
+};
diff --git a/tools/binman/test/65_entry_args_unknown_datatype.dts b/tools/binman/test/65_entry_args_unknown_datatype.dts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..3e4838f4fff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/binman/test/65_entry_args_unknown_datatype.dts
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+	#address-cells = <1>;
+	#size-cells = <1>;
+
+	binman {
+		_testing {
+			test-str-fdt = "test0";
+			test-int-fdt = <123>;
+			force-bad-datatype;
+		};
+	};
+};
diff --git a/tools/dtoc/fdt_util.py b/tools/dtoc/fdt_util.py
index 05cb9c07758..b2290385695 100644
--- a/tools/dtoc/fdt_util.py
+++ b/tools/dtoc/fdt_util.py
@@ -147,3 +147,24 @@ def GetBool(node, propname, default=False):
     if propname in node.props:
         return True
     return default
+
+def GetDatatype(node, propname, datatype):
+    """Get a value of a given type from a property
+
+    Args:
+        node: Node object to read from
+        propname: property name to read
+        datatype: Type to read (str or int)
+
+    Returns:
+        value read, or None if none
+
+    Raises:
+        ValueError if datatype is not str or int
+    """
+    if datatype == str:
+        return GetString(node, propname)
+    elif datatype == int:
+        return GetInt(node, propname)
+    raise ValueError("fdt_util internal error: Unknown data type '%s'" %
+                     datatype)
diff --git a/tools/dtoc/test_fdt.py b/tools/dtoc/test_fdt.py
index f085b1dd1a9..03cf4b4f7cf 100755
--- a/tools/dtoc/test_fdt.py
+++ b/tools/dtoc/test_fdt.py
@@ -380,6 +380,14 @@ class TestFdtUtil(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(True, fdt_util.GetBool(self.node, 'missing', True))
         self.assertEqual(False, fdt_util.GetBool(self.node, 'missing', False))
 
+    def testGetDataType(self):
+        self.assertEqual(1, fdt_util.GetDatatype(self.node, 'intval', int))
+        self.assertEqual('message', fdt_util.GetDatatype(self.node, 'stringval',
+                                                         str))
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as e:
+            self.assertEqual(3, fdt_util.GetDatatype(self.node, 'boolval',
+                                                     bool))
+
     def testFdtCellsToCpu(self):
         val = self.node.props['intarray'].value
         self.assertEqual(0, fdt_util.fdt_cells_to_cpu(val, 0))