diff --git a/include/image.h b/include/image.h
index 37feb5d56f..5bb7922a66 100644
--- a/include/image.h
+++ b/include/image.h
@@ -1131,9 +1131,10 @@ int fit_cipher_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
  *     0, on success
  *     libfdt error code, on failure
  */
-int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
-			      const char *comment, int require_keys,
-			      const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname);
+int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, const char *keyfile,
+			      void *keydest, void *fit, const char *comment,
+			      int require_keys, const char *engine_id,
+			      const char *cmdname);
 
 int fit_image_verify_with_data(const void *fit, int image_noffset,
 			       const void *data, size_t size);
@@ -1251,10 +1252,17 @@ void image_set_host_blob(void *host_blob);
 #endif
 #endif /* IMAGE_ENABLE_FIT */
 
-/* Information passed to the signing routines */
+/*
+ * Information passed to the signing routines
+ *
+ * Either 'keydir',  'keyname', or 'keyfile' can be NULL. However, either
+ * 'keyfile', or both 'keydir' and 'keyname' should have valid values. If
+ * neither are valid, some operations might fail with EINVAL.
+ */
 struct image_sign_info {
 	const char *keydir;		/* Directory conaining keys */
 	const char *keyname;		/* Name of key to use */
+	const char *keyfile;		/* Filename of private or public key */
 	void *fit;			/* Pointer to FIT blob */
 	int node_offset;		/* Offset of signature node */
 	const char *name;		/* Algorithm name */
diff --git a/tools/fit_image.c b/tools/fit_image.c
index d440d143c6..ae30f80783 100644
--- a/tools/fit_image.c
+++ b/tools/fit_image.c
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ static int fit_add_file_data(struct image_tool_params *params, size_t size_inc,
 	}
 
 	if (!ret) {
-		ret = fit_add_verification_data(params->keydir, dest_blob, ptr,
+		ret = fit_add_verification_data(params->keydir,
+						params->keyfile, dest_blob, ptr,
 						params->comment,
 						params->require_keys,
 						params->engine_id,
diff --git a/tools/image-host.c b/tools/image-host.c
index 33a224129a..270d36fe45 100644
--- a/tools/image-host.c
+++ b/tools/image-host.c
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@ static int fit_image_write_sig(void *fit, int noffset, uint8_t *value,
 }
 
 static int fit_image_setup_sig(struct image_sign_info *info,
-		const char *keydir, void *fit, const char *image_name,
-		int noffset, const char *require_keys, const char *engine_id)
+		const char *keydir, const char *keyfile, void *fit,
+		const char *image_name, int noffset, const char *require_keys,
+		const char *engine_id)
 {
 	const char *node_name;
 	char *algo_name;
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ static int fit_image_setup_sig(struct image_sign_info *info,
 
 	memset(info, '\0', sizeof(*info));
 	info->keydir = keydir;
+	info->keyfile = keyfile;
 	info->keyname = fdt_getprop(fit, noffset, FIT_KEY_HINT, NULL);
 	info->fit = fit;
 	info->node_offset = noffset;
@@ -207,8 +209,8 @@ static int fit_image_setup_sig(struct image_sign_info *info,
  * @engine_id:	Engine to use for signing
  * @return 0 if ok, -1 on error
  */
-static int fit_image_process_sig(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
-		void *fit, const char *image_name,
+static int fit_image_process_sig(const char *keydir, const char *keyfile,
+		void *keydest, void *fit, const char *image_name,
 		int noffset, const void *data, size_t size,
 		const char *comment, int require_keys, const char *engine_id,
 		const char *cmdname)
@@ -220,8 +222,9 @@ static int fit_image_process_sig(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
 	uint value_len;
 	int ret;
 
-	if (fit_image_setup_sig(&info, keydir, fit, image_name, noffset,
-				require_keys ? "image" : NULL, engine_id))
+	if (fit_image_setup_sig(&info, keydir, keyfile, fit, image_name,
+				noffset, require_keys ? "image" : NULL,
+				engine_id))
 		return -1;
 
 	node_name = fit_get_name(fit, noffset, NULL);
@@ -598,9 +601,10 @@ int fit_image_cipher_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
  * @engine_id:	Engine to use for signing
  * @return: 0 on success, <0 on failure
  */
-int fit_image_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
-		void *fit, int image_noffset, const char *comment,
-		int require_keys, const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname)
+int fit_image_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, const char *keyfile,
+		void *keydest, void *fit, int image_noffset,
+		const char *comment, int require_keys, const char *engine_id,
+		const char *cmdname)
 {
 	const char *image_name;
 	const void *data;
@@ -632,10 +636,10 @@ int fit_image_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
 			     strlen(FIT_HASH_NODENAME))) {
 			ret = fit_image_process_hash(fit, image_name, noffset,
 						data, size);
-		} else if (IMAGE_ENABLE_SIGN && keydir &&
+		} else if (IMAGE_ENABLE_SIGN && (keydir || keyfile) &&
 			   !strncmp(node_name, FIT_SIG_NODENAME,
 				strlen(FIT_SIG_NODENAME))) {
-			ret = fit_image_process_sig(keydir, keydest,
+			ret = fit_image_process_sig(keydir, keyfile, keydest,
 				fit, image_name, noffset, data, size,
 				comment, require_keys, engine_id, cmdname);
 		}
@@ -918,10 +922,10 @@ static int fit_config_get_data(void *fit, int conf_noffset, int noffset,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int fit_config_process_sig(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
-		void *fit, const char *conf_name, int conf_noffset,
-		int noffset, const char *comment, int require_keys,
-		const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname)
+static int fit_config_process_sig(const char *keydir, const char *keyfile,
+		void *keydest,	void *fit, const char *conf_name,
+		int conf_noffset, int noffset, const char *comment,
+		int require_keys, const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname)
 {
 	struct image_sign_info info;
 	const char *node_name;
@@ -938,7 +942,7 @@ static int fit_config_process_sig(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
 				&region_count, &region_prop, &region_proplen))
 		return -1;
 
-	if (fit_image_setup_sig(&info, keydir, fit, conf_name, noffset,
+	if (fit_image_setup_sig(&info, keydir, keyfile, fit, conf_name, noffset,
 				require_keys ? "conf" : NULL, engine_id))
 		return -1;
 
@@ -983,9 +987,10 @@ static int fit_config_process_sig(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int fit_config_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
-		void *fit, int conf_noffset, const char *comment,
-		int require_keys, const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname)
+static int fit_config_add_verification_data(const char *keydir,
+		const char *keyfile, void *keydest, void *fit, int conf_noffset,
+		const char *comment, int require_keys, const char *engine_id,
+		const char *cmdname)
 {
 	const char *conf_name;
 	int noffset;
@@ -1002,7 +1007,7 @@ static int fit_config_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest,
 		node_name = fit_get_name(fit, noffset, NULL);
 		if (!strncmp(node_name, FIT_SIG_NODENAME,
 			     strlen(FIT_SIG_NODENAME))) {
-			ret = fit_config_process_sig(keydir, keydest,
+			ret = fit_config_process_sig(keydir, keyfile, keydest,
 				fit, conf_name, conf_noffset, noffset, comment,
 				require_keys, engine_id, cmdname);
 		}
@@ -1048,9 +1053,10 @@ int fit_cipher_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
-			      const char *comment, int require_keys,
-			      const char *engine_id, const char *cmdname)
+int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, const char *keyfile,
+			      void *keydest, void *fit, const char *comment,
+			      int require_keys, const char *engine_id,
+			      const char *cmdname)
 {
 	int images_noffset, confs_noffset;
 	int noffset;
@@ -1072,7 +1078,7 @@ int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
 		 * Direct child node of the images parent node,
 		 * i.e. component image node.
 		 */
-		ret = fit_image_add_verification_data(keydir, keydest,
+		ret = fit_image_add_verification_data(keydir, keyfile, keydest,
 				fit, noffset, comment, require_keys, engine_id,
 				cmdname);
 		if (ret)
@@ -1080,7 +1086,7 @@ int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
 	}
 
 	/* If there are no keys, we can't sign configurations */
-	if (!IMAGE_ENABLE_SIGN || !keydir)
+	if (!IMAGE_ENABLE_SIGN || !(keydir || keyfile))
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Find configurations parent node offset */
@@ -1095,7 +1101,7 @@ int fit_add_verification_data(const char *keydir, void *keydest, void *fit,
 	for (noffset = fdt_first_subnode(fit, confs_noffset);
 	     noffset >= 0;
 	     noffset = fdt_next_subnode(fit, noffset)) {
-		ret = fit_config_add_verification_data(keydir, keydest,
+		ret = fit_config_add_verification_data(keydir, keyfile, keydest,
 						       fit, noffset, comment,
 						       require_keys,
 						       engine_id, cmdname);
diff --git a/tools/imagetool.h b/tools/imagetool.h
index 8726792c8c..8400e87e62 100644
--- a/tools/imagetool.h
+++ b/tools/imagetool.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ struct image_tool_params {
 	const char *outfile;	/* Output filename */
 	const char *keydir;	/* Directory holding private keys */
 	const char *keydest;	/* Destination .dtb for public key */
+	const char *keyfile;	/* Filename of private or public key */
 	const char *comment;	/* Comment to add to signature node */
 	int require_keys;	/* 1 to mark signing keys as 'required' */
 	int file_size;		/* Total size of output file */
diff --git a/tools/mkimage.c b/tools/mkimage.c
index 68d5206cb4..cc7b242faf 100644
--- a/tools/mkimage.c
+++ b/tools/mkimage.c
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ static void usage(const char *msg)
 		"Signing / verified boot options: [-k keydir] [-K dtb] [ -c <comment>] [-p addr] [-r] [-N engine]\n"
 		"          -k => set directory containing private keys\n"
 		"          -K => write public keys to this .dtb file\n"
+		"          -G => use this signing key (in lieu of -k)\n"
 		"          -c => add comment in signature node\n"
 		"          -F => re-sign existing FIT image\n"
 		"          -p => place external data at a static position\n"
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ static void process_args(int argc, char **argv)
 	int opt;
 
 	while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv,
-		   "a:A:b:B:c:C:d:D:e:Ef:Fk:i:K:ln:N:p:O:rR:qstT:vVx")) != -1) {
+		   "a:A:b:B:c:C:d:D:e:Ef:FG:k:i:K:ln:N:p:O:rR:qstT:vVx")) != -1) {
 		switch (opt) {
 		case 'a':
 			params.addr = strtoull(optarg, &ptr, 16);
@@ -226,6 +227,9 @@ static void process_args(int argc, char **argv)
 			params.type = IH_TYPE_FLATDT;
 			params.fflag = 1;
 			break;
+		case 'G':
+			params.keyfile = optarg;
+			break;
 		case 'i':
 			params.fit_ramdisk = optarg;
 			break;
